MASSIVE savings from dropping once-a-week rubbish bin collections will be used to pay for a public awareness campaign on a new scheme. In spite of reports last week – in another local newspaper – a plan to introduce rubbish collections every two weeks is

MASSIVE savings from dropping once-a-week rubbish bin collections will be used to pay for a public awareness campaign on a new scheme.

In spite of reports last week - in another local newspaper - a plan to introduce rubbish collections every two weeks is under serious consideration.

This emerged at a meeting of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee when members were discussing the shape of next year's budget.

The scrapping of the once-a-week collection will mean savings of £300,000 up to 2009.

But £200,000 savings in 2007-08 is likely to be ploughed back into an awareness campaign and publicity on recycling.

Finance services chief Barrie Jones told members that an increase in recycling was recognised as a part of dropping the once-a-week collections.

Councillor F John Smith said the public needed to be "educated" about changes and to understand the reasons behind the changes in the current bin collection scheme.

He said that where such as change has taken place elsewhere it has been generally accepted because the new scheme had been properly explained.

But he stressed there was a need for a "disposal site" for household waste and a desire to increase the recycling of cans and plastics.

Without the introduction of a proper "disposal site" the scheme would not be acceptable, he said.

"We have to sort out the problem of kitchen waste, but the new scheme can be supported as long as that alternative is in place," said Cllr Smith.

Members were told that the council had visited other local authorities on fact-finding missions to see the effect of dropping once-a-week collections.

Cllr Tony Hunter said there were "deep concerns" about hygiene problems associated with a truncated scheme.

He said people believed waste being kept for two weeks could attract rats and insects.

But he, too, accepted that the project could be supported as long as proper recycling schemes were in place.

Committe chairman Cllr Fiona Hill, however, said she could not support the idea of fortnightly rubbish collections.

Mr Jones added that a report is expected next month on the council's strategy for introducing the new collection scheme and increasing recycling.