RESIDENTS are being asked for their views on changing rubbish collection in Sedgemoor from fortnightly to once every three weeks.

Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council scrutiny committee Brian Smedley said the Labour group vow to to fight the changes which will be looked at in detail at Wednesday's meeting.

Cllr Smedley argues that the proposed changes 'are more to do with money and making savings than protecting the environment'.

The proposals put forward by Somerset Waste Partnership include: 
- Continued weekly recycling collections using the kerbside sort method with the following added to materials accepted: plastic pots, tubs and trays, small electrical appliances and batteries
- Continued weekly food waste collections
- An additional reusable bag with cover provided for plastics and cans
- Refuse to be collected every three weeks. Current guidelines will be applied and, where needed and requested, additional sack or bin capacity will be provided for nappies and adult absorbent hygiene products.

Many of these new measures were trialled in Wiveliscombe in Taunton Deane earlier this year, with a survey finding 86 per cent said they would rather keep three-weekly refuse collection rather than go back to fortnightly.

However Cllr Smedley argues these results should not be given too much weight as Wiveliscombe is not at all similar to urban areas like Bridgwater and already had a higher than average tendency proportion of recycling.

Senior Citizens Forum member Glen Burrows said: "There should be a massive campaign against packaging instead. Why can’t recycling include garden waste, at no extra cost? 

"Why do gardeners have to pay extra, when we are doing more for the environment? If three-weekly is inevitable, we’ll need bigger bins. But the streets will be permanently adorned with garbage.”

Cllr Smedley added: "If you want to have your say, register to speak at the Scrutiny meeting on Wednesday or just turn up and listen to the debate. 

"The meeting is at Bridgwater House, Kings Square at 2.30pm on Wednesday, December 7. To register to speak contact democraticservices@sedgemoor.gov.uk or phone 01278 435435 and speak to Andrew Melhuish.