WHEELIE bins could be introduced in Southend to replace rubbish sacks, with collections moved to bi-weekly to encourage recycling.

Southend Council has fallen short of its 50 per cent target for recycling in the last two years.

Currently, black bin bags are used for general waste and pink sacks are used for recycling with both collected weekly.

However, new plans could see wheelie bins introduced with recycling collected one week and general waste next week.

A campaign to raise public awareness is also on the cards via awareness days, posters, adverts, leaflets and competitions.

You can have your say in our poll here >> POLL: Should wheelie bins replace rubbish sacks in Southend?

Alex Bright, Conservative councillor for Southchurch ward, said: “Myself and other members of the working party are now considering the first draft of our report, which will go to the place scrutiny committee on Monday.

“At that meeting, the committee will have the opportunity to review the initial contents of the report and amendments will no doubt be made.

“No final recommendations have been made as yet and the report is still only at the initial draft stages.”

The draft report has looked at mimicking schemes in Rochford and Tendring, with both council’s reporting less street cleaning is needed as no excess rubbish is permitted to be left around the bins.

Where space is limited, as it is in many densely populated areas of Southend, sacks would still be provided.

Weekly collections of food waste are likely to be mandated following the implementation of the Environment Bill.

Jon Fuller from South East Essex Friends of the Earth, said: “Fortnightly collections of glass, plastic, paper and other recyclables won’t be a problem, but it is absolutely essential that food waste is collected weekly.

“The global commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero means that we must not delay the collection of rotting food waste for long, particularly with the increasing number of heat waves we are going to experience. Food waste must be collected weekly and moved to anaerobic digestion plants where the methane can be collected and used to heat homes.”