Basildon hopes to double its level of recycling in the next three years by running doorstep collections for plastic, cans and textiles.
The "dry recyclables" service will be available to 12,000 households throughout the district as a pilot scheme.
In addition, an extension to the existing green waste collection is planned.
The plastic, cans and textile items will be collected every two weeks, much in the same way waste paper is gathered at present.
Basildon Council is offering the new service because although it is on course to meet its target of 17 per cent recycling by the end of March, it is now aiming to up this to 30 per cent within three years.
Stephen Hillier, portfolio holder for regeneration and the environment, said: "Recycling and waste management is one of the major issues facing society today.
"How to maximise recycling, how to encourage public participation, how to re-educate business and how to pay for this are some of the major questions facing this and other councils across the nation."
Published Tuesday, January 21, 2003
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