A bin backlash has been predicted by campaigners fighting plans to cut rubbish collections by half. Mid Sussex, Rother and Hastings councils plan to introduce the schemes, while alternate weekly collections are already in force in Wealden and Chichester.

Advocates believe they can increase recycling rates by a third. But campaigners fear thousands of households will find their uncollected waste drawing flies and rats - creating a breeding ground for maggots and disease. Andy Dickenson asked experts whether the schemes would prove a boon for vermin or the environment this summer.

FOR

SANDY BRUCE-LOCKHART is chairman of the Local Government Association, a cross-party organisation representing councils in England.

It performed the first analysis of whether alternate weekly waste collection improved recycling rates.

Mr Bruce-Lockhart said: "The study showed that, on average, 30 per cent of household waste was recycled or composted in councils with the alternate weekly collection scheme.

"For councils that have opted not to undertake alternate weekly collection, an average of 23 per cent of household waste is recycled or composted.

"All ten of the councils with the highest recycling rates in the country have adopted alternate weekly collection.

"And eight out of ten of the councils with the most improved recycling rates also use alternate weekly collection.

"Councils are using many different techniques to make sure as much rubbish is recycled as possible, to help the environment and keep council tax down.

"It is up to each council, with their residents, to decide which sort of approach is used to ensure residents help do their bit for the environment and keep council tax as low as possible.

"With landfill taxes set to rise dramatically in the next five years, there will be more and more pressure on councils to cut the amount of rubbish that gets thrown into landfill.

"The National Audit Office has estimated that, unless landfill rates drop dramatically in the coming years, councils and the taxpayer will have to pay fines of £200 million.

"Britain is the dustbin of Europe, with more rubbish being thrown into landfill than any other country on the Continent.

"For decades, people have been used to throwing their rubbish away without worrying about environmental consequences or rising costs. Those days are now over.

"Councils are listening to residents and taking action over their concerns about protecting the environment and helping tackle climate change.

"The move by some to alternate weekly bin collections is aimed at working with residents to reduce waste, increase recycling and slow rising costs from EU legislation and higher landfill tax.

"There needs to be an urgent and radical overhaul of the way rubbish is thrown away. People, businesses and councils have a vital role to play to protect our countryside before it becomes buried in a mountain of rubbish.

"Unless the ways of people and business change, it is estimated we will run out of landfill space in less than nine years.

Reducing waste will also help cut carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

"The choice is simple and stark.

Either people throw more rubbish into their bins and damage the environment or they recycle more and help save the planet."

AGAINST

DORETTA COCKS helps organise the national Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection.

It supports kerbside recycling but not at the expense of general waste collections.

She said: "To be able to recycle via kerbside collections helps us all reduce waste going to landfill.

"By reducing the frequency of general waste collections to once a fortnight, costs are kept down and the belief is it encourages' people to recycle - if they do not they will soon run out of capacity in the general waste bins.

"But I became involved in a campaign following the introduction of alternate weekly collections in my borough - Eastleigh in Hampshire - and it was evident from the first summer experience of the scheme that to collect general waste every 14 days was inadequate.

"As temperatures rise, so does the rate of decomposition of organic waste in the bin.

"Food waste, nappies, incontinence pads and sanitary items all produce bacteria and fungal spores as they rot down, even when wrapped.

"This gives off unpleasant odours and flies are attracted to the waste.

"Maggot infestations in wheeled bins are now commonplace in areas where fortnightly collections operate.

"Chichester introduced this scheme a few years ago and a local newspaper started a bluebottle campaign' in response to numerous letters of complaint from residents.

"Other Sussex councils are now considering alternate weekly schemes.

"When I started to research this topic in 2001, I discovered eight local authorities had tried alternate weekly collections but had reverted to weekly after huge protests by residents.

"Last year, Epping Forest District Council announced a reversion to weekly collections for the remainder of the summer months after complaints from residents.

"Councils that decide to continue with weekly collections can reach recycling rates of 40 per cent.

"One council in Warwickshire has achieved this and the Isle of Wight Council is close. The quality of recycling materials is usually higher.

"In areas operating fortnightly schemes, so much has to go to landfill due to contamination.

"People have their own ways of coping and these include paying private contractors to collect waste, taking waste to work, placing waste in litter bins, flytipping and burning in gardens.

"Waste is leaving the domestic waste stream so obviously recycling rates are likely to be higher.

"In 1875, the Public Health Act included legislation that domestic waste had to be collected every seven days. This was to interrupt the life cycle of the housefly - seven to ten days.

"Nothing has changed, except higher temperatures result in an accelerated life cycle - so Sussex councils, please think again."

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