MOST rubbish in Three Rivers will be collected fortnightly in future, to make way for weekly organic waste collections, with the aim of encouraging people to recycle more.

But in a move that is likely to infuriate many householders, non-recyclables will only be removed once every two weeks. This could mean stinking rubbish overflowing from the single general rubbish bin owned by each Three Rivers household.

Despite a survey conducted by Three Rivers District Council (TRDC), which revealed that just 16 per cent of residents were putting out a full general bin each week, large families - particularly those with young children in nappies - will be likely to create more rubbish than a single bin can take in a fortnight.

Until now, residual or non-recyclable rubbish has been collected weekly, and brown (organic) bins emptied on alternate weeks.

Cabinet member for public services and health, Councillor Phil Brading, said: "We are not proposing to stop weekly rubbish collections and the council remains committed to providing a weekly service for rubbish that can rot or smell.

"What we are proposing is to change the weekly collection from residual rubbish to organic waste, in order to ensure more kitchen food waste is collected for composting instead of landfill.

"If residents make sure items that can be recycled are recycled, then they should find that their green bins are already virtually empty.

"The new collection arrangements will therefore involve a 'swap', so the organic waste bins will be collected weekly and the residual waste bins will be emptied fortnightly."

The cost-cutting measure, which will save about £234,000, is due to be implemented next summer. It was approved by the Liberal Democrat administration on December 7.

Three Rivers has one of the highest recycling rates in the UK, at just over 50 per cent of household waste, but aims to increase this to 60 per cent by implementing these proposals.

Mr Brading added: "These proposals are a 'win-win' for the district. The council will be able to further enhance its household waste service by using its existing refuse vehicles and workforce more effectively, collecting more recycling and cutting the amount of residual waste going to landfill still further."

The new scheme will entitle residents to one brown bin, with an annual charge of £104 for each extra one.

But the leader of the opposition Conservative group, Councillor Chris Hayward, said the swap would result in 'a diminution of service to residents'.

Mr Hayward said: "We are by no means confident that the savings projected by this change will actually be achieved. Many people already recycle all their organic waste into the brown bin but still have a full green bin at the end of each week."

* What do you think? Email reporter Siba Matti at sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk