Weekly rubbish collections are to be stopped across North Hertfordshire after councillors decided to opt for fortnightly collections. Councillors attending the district council s Cabinet committee meeting on Tuesday voted to introduce alternate weekly col

Weekly rubbish collections are to be stopped across North Hertfordshire after councillors decided to opt for fortnightly collections.

Councillors attending the district council's Cabinet committee meeting on Tuesday voted to introduce alternate weekly collections of residual waste in a bid to cut the amount of rubbish households throw away.

The decision is also meant to get people to recycle more of the items they are currently getting rid of.

The changes are likely to come into effect in the autumn when waste will be collected once a fortnight except where the property is part of a complex which uses communal bins or has a communal bin storage area.

In this case, waste will continue to be collected weekly.

A spokesman for the council said: "This is a major step for recycling in North Herts.

"If we do not introduce alternate weekly collections, we will face heavy penalties from central government for excess landfill.

"The proposed system will not only help us meet and exceed the government targets, but also I am sure it will be appreciated by the great majority of our residents who are keen to do their bit for the recycling cause."

However, twice monthly collections came under criticism last summer in Mid Bedfordshire when Carla Snook complained to The Comet that twice-monthly collections, combined with hot weather, had led to an infestation of maggots in her bin.

"To force people to have their rubbish close to their homes for two weeks before it is collected is disgraceful," she said.

"People can't leave their bins by their back doors because of the flies and smells and now my bin is full of maggots."

There were also concerns that this system might lead to rat infestations.

But a spokesman for Mid Beds Council said alternate week collections is not in itself a contributor to an increase in rats.

The spokesman said: "If householders allow access by rats to food waste they will experience problems. Our advice has always been to keep food waste stored in the black wheeled bin with the lid closed."

North Hertfordshire is not the only council in our area which is currently considering shaking up its waste collection services.

A spokesman for Stevenage Borough Council said it is to consider using wheeled bins. This decision comes around nine months after the council was criticised by some residents for not having already done so.

He said: "The council will be reviewing the way that it provides waste services over the coming year and all options will be considered...we are currently only reviewing the options and no decisions have yet to be taken.