GREEN-THINKING residents can support child victims of the Asian tsunami as they clean up the environment.

It is hoped changes to refuse collections on Teesside will improve recycling rates and raise money for charity as £1 will be donated for every tonne collected to the Save The Children Fund.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's refuse workforce begin a four-day week on Tuesday, with the area split into four collection zones.

The council's recycling contractor, Abitibi-Consolidated Recycling Europe, has raised £8,000 for the charity since it established links with the council in 2002.

The company's managing director Ron Humphreys said: "The dual motivation for doing something for the environment, while assisting the efforts of a charity that fights for children's rights, has obvious appeal to the public.

"This has been instrumental in improving recycling rates around the country."

The council's cabinet member for environmental improvement Councillor Bob Stanway said: "This is an extremely important time for the council and its collection scheme.

"We want everyone to be part of what we are trying to achieve and, in my opinion, the fact that people's efforts can help such a marvellous charity is an added incentive."