AMBITIOUS new recycling targets have been set by South Gloucestershire Council, with plans to drastically reduce the amount of waste the district sends to landfill.

It means households will see their black bins replaced by slimline versions, which the council says are proven to reduce waste as residents think more carefully about what they are throwing away, and kerbside recycling collections will be increased from fortnightly to weekly.

The current fortnightly black bin collections will remain the same, but existing 240litre bins will be replaced with 140litre capacity ones.

The plans aim to increase recycling in the district by 7,000 tonnes a year, raising recycling rates to 55 per cent by 2020, and save council between £800,000 and £1million a year.

Cllr Heather Goddard (Con, Hanham) chairman of the council’s environment and community services committee, said: “Over half of the contents of the average black bin in South Gloucestershire could be recycled, cutting waste and saving taxpayers’ money.

“At a time when we’re looking to find £22million in savings, cutting the amount it costs us to throw things away, money that could be better spent on other services, is clearly right. It is also supported by the overwhelming majority of residents.

“We recognise that residents will have to adjust to the new collection arrangements and have listened to what they have had to say.

"We have made concessions for families with young children in nappies and large families, by bringing in a separate nappy collection service and also offering the possibility of a larger bin where large families struggle to manage their waste even if they recycle all that they can.

"There will be no changes to the service for households with medical needs. Working together we can cut waste, increase recycling and save money.”