Residents are being encouraged to sign up to an eco-friendly scheme to have their garden waste collected and recycled instead of dumped at landfill sites.

West Oxfordshire District Council is expanding its green waste scheme next month, following its successful introduction last year, when between April and December, 2,750 householders signed up to have their garden waste collected. This resulted in 880 tons of waste being turned into compost.

This year's scheme will be available for up to 4,000 residents in the district, at a cost of £30 per household for the year. In return, householders will receive a green-lidded wheelie bin and a fortnightly collection until April 2008. All the waste will then be taken to Agrivert, at Radford, near Chipping Norton, and turned into compost.

As an incentive, each resident who signs up to the scheme by tomorrow will be entered into a free prize draw to win one of five £30 garden centre vouchers.

Council cabinet member for the environment David Harvey said it was important for people to recycle their green waste as it eased the pressure on landfill sites and cut the risk of pollution.

He said: "The launch of the scheme last year has already meant hundreds of tonnes of this waste being diverted from landfill and put to good use, instead of creating a risk of pollution.

"I hope those residents who took part last year will resubscribe, and that we can encourage others to do the same."

Log on to www.westoxon.gov.uk Alternatively, call 01993 861020 to pay by debit or credit card, request an application form by post, or email green.waste@westoxon.gov.uk