Underground recycling facilities have been installed in various locations of Blackpool as part of the Blackpool is Getting Clean and Tidy (BIG CAT) campaign.

The 12 units are located at the Solaris Centre, Blackpool Zoo and Grange Park. They are only visible to the public as small bins, but the waste is kept neatly in a large underground container.

Costs are reduced because the bins do not require emptying as often as the smaller, over-ground facilities.

The collection method is also simple in that only a small, inexpensive modification has to be made to the collection vehicle to enable it to lift the container out of the concrete casing for emptying.

Cllr Ian Fowler, cabinet member with responsibility for the BIG CAT campaign, said: ‘The general take-up by the public has been excellent and the quality of the material has also been good with little or no cross-contamination meaning that recycling has been at its most effective.’ ‘I hope that by next year Blackpool increases its recycling figures by another 4%.’