Mid Sussex homeowners may have their rubbish collections cut back to one a fortnight to meet green targets.

Mid Sussex District Council is considering the reduction. The alternate weeks would be used for recycling collections.

The move is one of several being considered as a way of meeting Government recycling targets.

The council recycles 18 per cent of domestic waste through paper and bottle banks and by collecting materials from people's homes.

It is well ahead of the national average for recycling but has been told it must meet targets of 33 per cent by 2003/4 and 36 per cent by 2005/6.

The plan to cut rubbish collections would save homeowners in Mid Sussex £285,000 over the next three years - equivalent to shaving £1.77 a year off the average council tax bill.

Cutting general refuse collections was the most popular option in a residents' survey on recycling, revealed at a council meeting last night.

It was one of three choices put to them as part of the council's budget 2003/4 consultation.

The council is also considering options including introducing weekly recycling collections - which could add another £6.42 a year on to council tax bills.

The council said it was still looking at different options and would be trying out a Government-funded pilot scheme next year to increase recycling.

It has secured £62,000 from the Government so 1,000 households in a trial area can have weekly collections of recycling boxes.

The additional collections will begin in April and run for one year.

Councillor David Russell said: "People often tell us that they cannot recycle as much as they would like as the kerbside boxes fill up before the collection day and they do not have room to store extra items."

The council's recycling officer Pete Robinson said: "This scheme is going to dramatically increase the amount of recycling carried out in Mid Sussex."