Brentwood's free green waste collection service has got off to a great start with more than 38 tonnes collected in the first week.

The service has come about through a £106,000 grant from central government's National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund to pay for the trial scheme, which will run until March.

And the council is hoping to secure more funding so the service can run for longer.

A roll of 20 green biodegradable sacks have been delivered to each house in Brentwood along with a leaflet explaining what they are for.

The bags are then collected on alternative weeks in October and November and then will start again in January until March. Residents can buy extra bags.

A council spokesman said: "Residents are reminded not to overfill their sacks, tie them or place them inside other sacks.

"Most importantly they should ensure that green waste is not contaminated with any other type of waste like plastic bags, cooked foods or plastic pots as an contamination will render the whole collection as worthless."

Once collection the waste is sent to a processing plant in Pitsea for composting and will eventually be available to buy as organic compost.

Published Tuesday October 22, 2002

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