Everyone could be a winner under a new textile recycling scheme which starts on Monday.

The doorstep collection project will encourage local people to hand over any old clothes or shoes.

Unlike the recent paper collection scheme, the new green bags will be sent to every house in the borough and collections made once every three months.

The scheme has been organised by Bury Council and a local textile recycling company who will both gain financially, as will the community.

Coun Wayne Campbell, contract services chairman, said the success of the recent BT Environment Week showed that Bury was concerned about green issues.

"We have often been in the forefront of recycling initiatives and this is another major step down that road," he said.

"We believe this latest project will bring significant benefits to the environment and hope that the public will work with us." Once collected, the textiles will be sorted and sent to charities either in the UK or in developing countries abroad. The company will convert poor quality items into wiping cloths for industry or break them down to fibres for other commercial uses.

The local authority will also gain. It will receive government cash through recycling credits because it won't have to bury so much waste in landfill sites.

Mr Philip Allen, acting director of competitive services, said: "Recycling textiles not only saves resources but helps to reduce pollution and the need for valuable space in landfill sites to be used."

The scheme will operate for a trial period of twelve months. Coun Campbell said the council was not trying to affect the money that local charities and other organisations raised by selling second-hand clothes.

"If people normally give to such outlets, they should continue to do so," he said.

"We are attempting to recover other textile items which are just thrown away. We ask people to store items, place them in the collection bag when it arrives and we will do the rest."

Green bags and explanatory notes will start arriving on people's doorsteps next week.

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