Race goers at this year's Derby at Epsom Downs recycled thousands of plastic bottles and cans under a new event recycling initiative for big events.

Recycling bins were set up across the downs to collect plastic bottles and cans from the public and at least 5,000 bottles were collected.

The idea of recycling at major events is a joint initiative between Coca Cola Enterprises and Surrey County Council and the Derby was the first of a series of events that will feature the recycling bins across the country.

Staff from Surrey County Council's environment team were on hand throughout the two day meeting to talk to racegoers about recycling and to man the bins as required.

David Harmer, Surrey's executive member for the environment said: "Surrey is committed to increasing recycling and reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill. Recycling at major events is a new and exciting concept that the county council is proud to be pioneering and we hope that we will be able to extend this to other events across the county.

Helen Wright, of Coca-Cola Enterprises, said: “The Derby was our first ever event recycle zone and we can say it was an overwhelming success.

"Over the two days many people used the recyclezones, which made it easy for people to choose to recycle exactly when they need to - just when they'ver finished their drink."

This work builds on the zones that have already been set up at Epsom General and other Surrey hospitals which have led to big increases in recycling across these hospitals.

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