With climate change and the environment making headlines worldwide, businesses in Bradford will be able to play their part by contributing to a new recycling scheme.

City centre-based firms will now have the chance to recycle their paper and card as a new collection service gets underway for paper and card from current users of Bradford Council's trade waste service.

The project gets underway this week and is a joint initiative by Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward.

By offering the service, the Council aims to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill that would otherwise generate methane gas, adding to global warming.

During the first six months of the scheme existing trade waste charges will remain. After this period, the Council will consider offering a discount for those who are willing to separate their recyclable materials for collection.

Richard Wixey, head of the Council's environmental services division, said: "This will give many businesses the opportunity to do more to recycle their waste and help tackle climate change.

"We need to reduce the amount of waste that is going to landfill, and this is one of a number of measures we are considering to do that."

To mark the new service Andy Naylor, assistant manager for trade waste at Bradford Council, helped collect rubbish from the premises of Bradford-law firm Schoefield Sweeney.

Martin Sweeney, of the solicitors, was on hand to assist with the clear-up.

Michael Smith, head of sustainable development at Yorkshire Forward, said: "The recent announcements by the Chancellor in this year's budget around encouraging businesses to recycle demonstrate how green issues are now playing an even bigger role on the political and business agenda.

"Yorkshire and Humber is the only region in the UK to have its own self-imposed target for cutting carbon emissions - 20 per cent by 2010 - and this initiative will help businesses in Bradford play their part in achieving this."

For more information about the service, businesses should call (01274) 434875.