FORTNIGHTLY rubbish collections will be introduced in Stevenage later this year. Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) will issue wheelie bins to residents in November, which will then be emptied on alternate weeks. Some households are unable to accommodate a w

FORTNIGHTLY rubbish collections will be introduced in Stevenage later this year.

Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) will issue wheelie bins to residents in November, which will then be emptied on alternate weeks.

Some households are unable to accommodate a wheelie bin and will have to continue to use black sacks, the council has admitted.

Resident David Pearce said: "I think it's disgusting. A fortnightly bin collection, especially for people with large families, is not enough and it's not hygienic.

"We pay enough council tax, and my opinion as a council tax payer is it should be a priority to have weekly bin collections."

SBC says it has seen a reduction in general household waste over the past six months due to an increase in recycling, and is working towards recycling 50 per cent of household waste by 2012/13.

The council will introduce plastic kerbside recycling from April 12, and will issue a black box to residents to use for plastic bottles, cans, and aluminium foil and trays.

The blue box will just be for paper.

The brown bin will continue to be used for garden rubbish, cardboard, and kitchen waste recycling.

Recycling will be collected on alternate weeks to household waste.

A spokesman for SBC said: "This gives residents the option, particularly in hot weather, of having food waste collected weekly."

She added: "As well as helping to meet our residents' demands for an enhanced recycling service, these changes will demonstrate many other benefits including reducing our carbon footprint and promoting a cleaner environment throughout Stevenage.

"Landfill tax increases annually and this, combined with the introduction of tough new legislation, is rapidly increasing the cost of disposing of waste.

"We believe that investing in new recycling services rather than paying increasing amounts to send waste to landfill represents a far better use of public money."

Most households will receive a wheelie bin which can hold four full rubbish sacks, with larger bins provided to households of more than five people. Smaller bins can also be provided on request.