SMELLY socks, dishevelled drawers and choc-a-bloc tunnels were some of the challenges faced down by University of Bolton students as part of a ‘Beat the Binmen’ initiative to boost recycling.

Residents from the university’s halls went head=to-head with Bolton Council binmen in a ‘Total Wipeout’ style fun day to teach them about what can be recycled.

As part of five courses participants climbed through a inflatable tunnel looking for tokens, filled Bolton Council bins with water and scrambling around a bedroom wearing opaque ‘beer goggles’.

Campaign officer Clare Fallon from Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority said it was good to welcome so many students to the games and teach them reducing their way.

She added: “The idea was to come up with a way of involving traditionally hard-to-reach groups — such as students, people living in apartments or minority communities — with recycling initiatives.

“It’s about getting recycling into their minds.

“This is only a pilot project, but if it’s successful we could bring it to the other Greater Manchester university to be used at their Freshers Fair, including Salford, MMU and the University of Manchester.”

The course was designed by sports students, as part of a ‘sports in the community’ module at the University of Bolton.

Bethan Berry, aged 21, threw herself into the challenge and said she’s now more aware about what can and can’t be recycled.

She said: “It was good fun. The ‘beer goggles’ challenge was the hardest, I couldn’t see a thing.”

For more information about the scheme visit recycleforgreatermanchester.com/upandforward