Bristol could be first to collect black bins every four weeks

Bristol city council could become the first local authority in England to collect residents' black bins only once every four weeks.

- Steven Morris

The Green-led council said that switching from a two- to four-weekly collection would save it more than £2m a year and help reverse a dip in recycling rates.

Some residents and political opponents have expressed concern that it could lead to more non-recyclable rubbish being fly-tipped, and more than 2,000 people have signed a Labour petition against the idea.

The council argues there is no evidence of an increase in fly-tipping in areas that have moved to three-weekly collections and that it has the power to clamp down on offenders.

The authority launched a six-week consultation yesterday and is aiming to make a decision by the spring. Residents are being asked if collections should stay the same or move to a three- or four-week pattern.

Bristol is home to about 483,000 people living in more than 191,000 households. The council said that on average each person creates up to 400kg of household waste a year.