Ongar residents will be forced to store their rotting household rubbish for up to two weeks under a new pilot scheme being considered for trial by the district council.

Under the new scheme the town's bin lorries will collect recyclable waste and household rubbish on alternate weeks forcing residents to hold onto black sacks for up to 14 days.

The move has angered residents and businesses in the town and raised concerns about an increase in 'fly-tipping' which already plagues the district's rural roads and green spaces.

Shocked Ongar resident Ron Case told the Brentwood Gazette the closure of the LECA site means residents who have nowhere to store their waste could find themselves in a difficult position.

He said: "I just don't believe the illogicality of the district council's proposal. People will just push their rubbish out onto the streets and anywhere else they can. Where else are they going to store their black bags? - in their back gardens! I can't see anyone driving down to the landfill site in South Ockendon with a car full of rubbish."

The district council hopes the Ongar trial will prove successful so it can roll out the changes across Epping Forest to bring its recycling figures into line with Government targets.

A spokesman revealed Ongar was "likely" to be the location of the trial but said that a fortnightly rubbish collection should not lead to any problems.

He added: "If residents separate out everything they can for recycling using their blue boxes and bags then collection of the remainder the following week should be sufficient. More and more authorities are introducing this type of collection and most have found that after a short while residents find the new arrangements satisfactory."

No date has been set for the start of the trial.

Published Wednesday January 14, 2004

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