PEOPLE are being given the chance to win prizes as an incentive to recycle rubbish.

Every month, a visitor to five recycling centres in North Yorkshire will receive a £50 gift voucher that can be redeemed at several outlets.

Residents can enter the draw at centres in Harrogate, Ripon, Towthorpe, in York, Scarborough and Selby.

Prizes are also available to households that donate or buy used furniture, electrical goods and clothing from charitable organisations.

The incentives are being offered by the York and North Yorkshire Waste Management Partnership, of which all councils in the county are members. Funding has been provided by the Government.

County councillor Clare Wood said: "I hope that these pilot projects will encourage regular recyclers to recycle even more and will encourage those people who have not yet started to recycle regularly to get on board.

"Persuading people to change their behaviour is a challenge, and recycling is no exception. Although there are many dedicated recyclers in North Yorkshire, there are still people who have yet to start recycling regularly. This is one way of encouraging people to get started."