FOOTBALL fans across the borough are being urged to give waste the red card.

Thousands of households will generate a mountain of extra beer cans and bottles during the World Cup.

And as part of a national campaign, the borough council is encouraging people to think green about their waste over the summer.

The BIG recycle, a Government-funded national recycling week launched on Monday, is aiming to create awareness among football followers who will be drinking from thousands of extra cans and plastic and glass bottles.

Residents will also use more newspapers, magazines and cardboard packaging - as the borough council's recycling team discovered during Euro 2004.

Waste management officer, Elizabeth Entwistle said: 'When the European Cup was on in Portugal, we were still trialling the pilot recycling area.

'We noticed that at the height of that event, due to people having parties while watching the matches, the amount of glass put out for recycling doubled in weight during the tournament.

'We are hoping it will be the same in the rest of the borough during the World Cup 2006. So while you are cheering England on, don't forget to recycle your waste.'

The BIG recycle, jointly organised and funded by the Government's Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), is being backed by football presenter Gabby Logan, former England player Graeme Le Saux and impressionist Alistair McGowan...SUPL: