Recycling reminder goes mobile

4.58.34pm GMT Sun 3rd Feb 2008

Residents of Richmond upon Thames can sign up to a free text service to remind them when to put their waste and recycling out.

The Council has teamed up with Recycle for London to launch the capital's first free text reminder pilot scheme. Registering is easy: simply text the word "REMIND" followed by your full postcode to 63131. Once you have registered you will receive a free text at 7pm the evening before your recycling is due to be picked up. You also have the option to stop the reminders at any time. The trial runs until April this year, when its success will be reviewed.

Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Martin Elengorn, said: "We are delighted to be working with Recycle for London to offer this free service, which could really help residents to remember to recycle regularly. Very many people do recycle already, as a matter of course, but everyone leads such busy lives and some may need a little help, in the form of a reminder. Our aim is to make recycling as easy as possible for everyone. For example, our new doorstep collection service, launched last November, has increased the borough's recycling rate significantly. We are determined to ensure this trend continues. "