BASINGSTOKE could be one of the selected pilot areas where special recycling advisers will be checking the rubbish of thousands of homes before it goes into dustcarts.

If householders are not complying with recycling recommendations, they may find they are offered a word of advice.

The moves are part of a broader new scheme to boost recycling in every corner of Hampshire by giving people more information about how it works.

The £1.6million "Recycle for Hampshire" initiative aims to lift recycling in the county to 40 per cent of all waste within a year. The scheme is run by Hampshire County Council and was formally launched on Wednesday in Winchester.

Angela Bethell, communications officer for Hampshire County Council Waste Management, said: "We found one of the biggest barriers to recycling was that people weren't sure what happened when waste was collected and they didn't understand the system of recycling."

But she said the project will be kicked off by teams of "recycling advisers" who will answer any questions people have about how recycling works.

The advisers will operate in six, as yet undecided, pilot areas, each comprising 10,000 homes.

A recycling assessment of households in the test zones will be carried out and if people are not recycling - or are putting material out to be recycled which cannot be broken down - the advisers will visit them and talk through any problems.

As part of the new initiative, an education programme is planned for the autumn that includes a recycling fact pack for new residents moving into the county.

Miss Bethell said: "It's not all about the householder and his or her role. We've got a strong commitment to get our own house in order and make sure all our staff are fully aware of all the recycling facilities."

The initiative will also be music to the ears of staff at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which currently recycles 16 per cent of waste against a Government target of 40 per cent by 2006.

First published: Friday, March 25, 2005