A THIRD bin could be provided for South Cambridgeshire residents. South Cambridgeshire district council s cabinet will consider introducing the new wheelie bin at their meeting this week. If approved, it could be in place by October next year. The third b

A THIRD bin could be provided for South Cambridgeshire residents.

South Cambridgeshire district council's cabinet will consider introducing the new wheelie bin at their meeting this week. If approved, it could be in place by October next year.

The third bin would increase the range of materials that could be recycled. Instead of separating dry recyclables between two boxes, they would all go in the one bin, which would contain a separate, integral container for paper.

It would also collect foil, cardboard, steel and aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles as well as hard plastic such as pots, tubs and trays and cartons.

Cllr Ray Manning, leader of the district council said, "We know our residents are already up there with the best when it comes to recycling, but we still have more to do.

"We've been looking at how we can improve the service to residents and help them to recycle more and are considering introducing a third bin to replace the current two green recycling boxes."

The new-look service would also save the cash-strapped council an estimated �425,000 by its third year of operation.

Cllr Manning said, "By 2012 we hope to be recycling 65 per cent of household waste. This is a challenging target but we are determined to make it a reality, at the same time recognising that our services have to work for residents. This proposal takes on board residents' comments that they would like to be able to recycle a greater range of plastics and need larger containers for their recycling.

"If the change is agreed by cabinet and council, the new service would make recycling easier for residents and be more cost effective. We would have to invest more money now, but this would be supported by funding from the county council and result in significant savings in the future. And, of course, the more we recycle, the less rubbish we have to put into costly and ever-decreasing landfill," he said.

Should the third-bin proposal be given the go ahead by cabinet, it will be considered at a meeting of the council on Thursday 26 November.