THE environmental services and communications teams from Cherwell District Council are in the running for a national award.

Both teams have been jointly shortlisted in the Team of the Year category at the MRW National Recycling Awards, which recognise innovation in recycling and resource management.

This follows a Facebook campaign aiming to clarify common recycling mistakes in the run-up to Christmas.

Each council also held a recycling bin sale at the same time.

In Cherwell, officers also created the A-Z Guide to Recycling, promoting different recyclable items beginning with each letter of the alphabet over 26 days.

A previous Cherwell campaign, The Rubbish Guide to Christmas, had been taken up by South Northamptonshire.

Using an interactive advent calendar, it featured a new item each day and invited residents to guess which bin it should be placed in.

Results of the awards will be announced in London on July 1.

Ed Potter, head of both councils’ environmental services, said: “This campaign involved the recycling and communications officers working closely together to use Facebook to highlight some items that are either put in the wrong bin, or not recycled at all.

“The team monitored social media seven days a week at all hours of the day and night to answer residents’ questions and clarify any misconceptions.

“It is fantastic that the effort the team put into delivering this initiative has been recognised with a national shortlisting, and we look forward to finding out the results.”