Bins revolution

People in Abingdon, Didcot, Wantage, Wallingford and villages across the area will be issued wheelie bins and will have their non-recyclable waste collected just once a fortnight.

A single firm will collect recyclable and non-recyclable waste on alternate weeks as part of a joint waste collection scheme run by South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse district councils.

The local authorities insist the move is vital to get more people recycling and to help it avoid government fines - but residents have their reservations.

Fortnightly rubbish collections have proved hugely controversial in Oxford and in other parts of the country.

A common complaint is that food waste left festering for two weeks leads to increases in rat populations and other sanitary problems But it is hoped that the decision by the Vale and South Oxfordshire to introduce a weekly food waste collection will ease residents' concerns.

Judy Thomas, 65, of Miles Drive, Grove, said: "I don't like the idea of fortnightly collections - but if they take the food away weekly, that's my main bug bear.

"It's also a matter of storing all the wheelie bins. We probably could store wheelie bins but there are a lot of people who can't and wheelie bins out the front are unsightly."

John Garvey, of Charlton Road, Wantage, said: "I think for people with a bit of space wheelie bins are wonderful and they are quite well-sealed, but for people with bigger families and smaller space it could become a bit of a problem."

But Dean Bateson, 25, of Albermarle Drive, Grove, welcomed the proposed changes.

He said: "I would not mind the fortnightly collection if the bins are big enough. It's all about trying to make the Vale cleaner and safer, and that's a good thing. I would like to see a trial period and also would hope that the council would consult all residents before introducing it."

At the moment, both district councils offer weekly collections of recycling and other rubbish.

But when the changes are introduced residents will have their non-recyclable waste collected fortnightly from wheelie bins.

Recycling, including glass, mixed plastics, cans and paper, will be collected fortnightly from wheelie bins or boxes and food waste will be collected weekly from a kitchen caddy.

Residents can opt in to a fortnightly collection of garden waste in wheelie bins or biodegradable sacks. There would be a separate charge for this service.

It is proposed that the new system will be introduced in June 2009 in South Oxfordshire and in autumn 2010 in the Vale.

Jenny Hannaby, a Vale district councillor and executive member for waste procurement, said: "From the start of the new Vale contract in autumn 2010 there will continue to be weekly collection of waste from people's homes, but for food waste only.

"This is the waste people are most concerned about due to problems with smell and possible vermin.

"While recycling and non-recyclable waste will be collected fortnightly - one type one week and the other the next - diverting food waste from this should meet people's concerns."

David Dodds, cabinet member for environmental services at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: "We have to radically reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill as space is rapidly running out and we face large penalties from government if we don't.

"To make storing rubbish and recycling easier we will be introducing wheeled bins which will also reduce the risk of waste littering the streets when it's windy.

"We will also be looking at alternatives for those who cannot accommodate wheeled bins, such as those living in flats or terraces."

Oxfordshire County Council's proposed giant food composter is expected to process the waste when it becomes operational next year.

The two councils have shortlisted three companies - Kier, Serco and Verdant - as the contenders for the waste collection contract.

A decision on which firm gets the contract is expected before the end of the year.