recycling champions in Worcestershire proved they were a glass act by securing the county and district councils special awards.

British Glass has awarded the authorities a Bottle Bank Commendation for recycling 2,000 tons of bottles and jars since the bottle bank scheme started up in 1984.

Worcestershire's haul is equivalent six million glass containers. Recycling this amount has saved enough energy to power all the TVs in Worcester for 11 days. The certificate was presented to the county council's waste minimisation and promotions officer Rachel Parker by British Glass mascot, Billy Bottle.

"Everyone in the county has worked hard at recycling glass, so it's really good that all the effort has been recognised," said Miss Parker.

"I hope Worcestershire can continue to maintain the amount of glass it recycles as the benefits are important to the environment." British Glass' Rebecca Husselbee added: "Glass recycling makes a real contribution to the environment and it's a great example of how industry and the public can work together.

"Glass is 100 per cent recyclable without any loss in quality. Effectively, consumers use the same glass over and over again with less waste going to landfill, reduced energy consumption and less raw material having to be quarried to make new glass."