Thousands of bins are being delivered to homes across the district next week ahead of the new recycling and waste collection services which start on Monday, September 19.

It is hoped the scheme will encourage people to recycle more of their waste.

The new service includes the introduction of a weekly collection of all food waste, together with an improved recycling collection service that will take plastic packaging like yogurt pots, ice cream tubs and food trays, not just plastic bottles.

The council is supplying residents with new containers for food waste, and wheeled bins for the collection of a greater range of recyclables and for the fortnightly collection of the waste that householders have not been able to recycle.

Working in partnership with Shepway District Council and Kent County Council, it is hoped the scheme will result in multi-million pound savings for the future.

Cllr Nicholas Kenton, the district council’s cabinet member for environment, waste and planning, said: "We are very pleased to be able to start rolling out this exciting new service. These important changes mean we will be able to recycle significantly more, save resources, and work together even more effectively to protect the environment for the future."

The new service is being introduced on a round-by-round basis.

Alternative collection methods will be used for homes that cannot have wheeled bins.

For further information, please see the DDC website at www.dover.gov.uk