POWYS County Council is calling on residents to increase recycling.

Wales may be a small country, but when it comes to recycling, but punches way above its weight. It is already the third best country in the world for recycling, and now Powys County Council is backing the Wales-wide movement 'Be Mighty, Recycle and let’s get Wales to number one!' to reach the top spot.

In the past decade, recycling in Powys has soared. Residents are now recycling around 64 per cent of waste, up from just 36.5 per cent in 2010. But if we are to help Wales reach the coveted top slot we need to do even more, according to Cllr Heulwen Hulme, cabinet member for waste and recycling.

She said: “Recycling is now the norm in Powys and most of us recycle every week. We’re recycling our fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells, tea bags and plate scrapings in our food caddies; recycling from every room in the home and recycling those tricky items such as empty aerosols.

“We should be proud of our recycling efforts, but we must keep up our good work. Let’s continue recycling everything we can from all around the home and help get Wales to number one.”

To learn more about the mighty movement visit www.walesrecycles.org.uk, look out for the ads on TV, on buses and billboards and social media across Wales or join the conversation using the hashtag #mightyrecyclers

Tips to get Wales to number one:

- Recycling our food waste is one of the easiest ways to give our recycling rate a big boost. Put any food waste – however small the amount – in your food waste caddy to ensure it gets collected every week

- Recycling does not stop at the kitchen door – remember to recycle from other rooms too. You would be amazed just how much bathroom waste such as empty shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and shower gel bottles can be recycled

- Most people know that water bottles, cans, and paper and card can be recycled, but do not forget that you can also recycle more unusual items such as empty aerosols. And if you are not sure what you can and can not recycle, visit www.powys.gov.uk/recycle

- Squash cans, pots, tubs and trays to save space in your box. And give them a quick rinse before recycling them – there is no need to use running water, a quick rinse in the washing up bowl will do

If Wales is going to get to number one, we all have to play our part. That means spreading the mighty movement word on social media by sharing your recycling pics and tips using the #mightyrecyclers hashtag