A NATIONAL campaign aiming to improve recycling rates by setting up banks to dispose of hot drink paper cups has been introduced in Wirral.

Working in partnership with the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK), Wirral council is supporting the new recycling service for plastic-lined paper cups.

People will now able to recycle their used cups alongside food and drink cartons at seven specialist 'bring banks'.

The bring banks will accept paper cups which are used for hot drinks such as tea and coffee in high street coffee shops, fast food outlets and supermarkets.

Council Cabinet member for Environment Cllr Phillip Brightmore said: "Previously coffee cups could not be recycled in Wirral, but with their growing use we were pleased to see the opportunity to include them in the food and drink carton collection banks.

"The residents of Wirral have always responded well to the different recycling schemes that are available, and we hope that they will take full advantage of this new service."

The announcement follows the Council's bid to be the first local authority in Merseyside to ban single-use plastics (SUP), such as cups, plastic bottles, straws, food packaging and plastic lids.

Cllr Brightmore added: “We have now set up a task force of community group representatives and volunteers that met for the first time this week and which will meet regularly to drive us towards a SUP Free Wirral.

"We are also looking at amending the conditions of hire for council land to prohibit the use of SUP at events, which is an extension of our existing ban on mass released balloons and use of polystyrene.

"We believe we are blazing a trail in the city region on this issue and will also be reviewing our procurement arrangements to address the purchase and use of SUP as part of our service provision, with a particular focus on provision within schools - single use water cups and drinking straws.

"SUP will be a key feature of the Council’s Eco School programme to educate school children about SUP and its impact on environment and the Council wants to work with its key partners and the Chamber of Commerce to encourage the adoption of arrangements to eradicate the use of SUP across the borough."

The seven bring bank sites are:

• Greasby Library, Greasby Road, Greasby, CH49 3AT

• Croft Business Park, Welton Road, Bromborough, Wirral, CH62 3QP

• Tesco, Telegraph Road, Heswall, CH60 7SL

• Council Car Park, Dee Lane, West Kirby, CH48 0QH

• Bidston HWRC, Wallasey Bridge Road, Wirral CH41 1EB

• West Kirby HWRC, Greenbank Road, Wirral CH48 5HR

• Clatterbridge HWRC, Mount Road, Bebington, Wirral CH63 4JZ