KIRBY Misperton’s Community Recycling Corner has opened to help reduce the amount of rubbish the village sends to landfill.

The village hall is now a collection point for crisp packets, confectionary wrappers, biscuit wrappers, beauty products, pet food packaging and dental items as part of a free recycling programme with TerraCycle, who work in partnership with producers such as Walkers crisps.

Other items include mascara wands which the Pickering Hedgehog Rescue Centre use for removing parasites. There is also a box for old curtains and spare material which can be used for making Morsbags by Pickering Stitchers.

Hazel Winter and Aimee Harding, from Kirby Misperton Environmental Group, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for our community to recycle. The centre is open not only to villagers, but anyone else passing through. We will be looking to continually expand the scheme in the future with bread bags and a clothing bank for the Air Ambulance being the next targets.”

The Kirby Misperton Environmental group were supported at the opening by local residents, members of Kirby Misperton Parish Council, Pickering Town Council, Ryedale Environmental Group, Pickering Stitchers and Steve Mason, the district councillor for Amotherby.

Cllr Mason added: “I love this. The local groups are setting the standards for community action on the environment. Reclaiming, reusing, recycling and upcycling will have to become a normal part of life, not a novelty for us all, if we are to tackle climate change and reduce our dependency on disposable and polluting products.”

Peter Winter praised the scheme on behalf of Ryedale Environmental Group (REG). “This project shows how a small number of people in a small community can make a big difference,” he said. “Let’s hope that this initiative also inspires others to follow.”

Anyone interested in starting a similar scheme in their area can email ryedaleeg@hotmail.com for more information.