Dartford Borough Council is to start a consultation on weekly rubbish collections in the borough.

It was announced at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, November 2, that the council will give residents a say on how they want their rubbish collections set out in the future.

There will be at least three options, one of which is a weekly collection while another would see the adoption of the so called Nominal Optimal Method (NOM) - which consists of weekly collection of food waste in a new container, fortnightly collection of green bins, fortnightly collection of paper and card in grey wheeled bins, and fortnightly collection of glass, plastic bottles and cans.

Council leader Jeremy Kite said: "If we want to boost recycling one of the way of doing that is taking away the weekly bins.

"When people know their bin isn't going to be collected for two to three weeks you are forced into recycling.

"I think we are talking about subtle shifts, not going to three week bin collections.

“We are now able to give the residents of Dartford a full range of choice.

"We need to get this consultation out and see what residents say.

"I think the day as the council we decide what to do without them (the public) is a very grave error."

Cllr Arron Bardoe said the costs of the rubbish services will help decide what bin collections to have.

He said: "It will be an easy decision to make once the figures come in.

"If we get big savings from it then we can spend it on other services"

Cllr Andy Lloyd said: "We are not looking to save money we are looking to cap our costs increase."

Cllr Patrick Coleman said: "It hurts me a little bit to read that Dartford is the worst at recycling."

The consultation is expected to be held during November and December.