PLANS to change the collection of recyclable waste are to be considered by Craven councillors.

Instead of separate collections of paper and cardboard, plus cans, plastic and glass, every other week, the council is considering collecting all recyclables together on a fortnightly basis.

If approved, residents will be able to put all paper, cardboard, cans and glass into one wheeled bin – doing away with the current plastic bags for paper waste, as promised earlier this year by council leader, Cllr Richard Foster.

It is also considering the frequency and type of collections, but with fortnightly collections the most likely option.

A report to Tuesday's policy committee meeting by lead member for greener Craven, Cllr Carl Lis, recommends the new 'co-mingled' collections are introduced in April next year, subject to them meeting Government TEEP waste regulations.

Councillors will be told the changes are needed as part of the council's continuing efforts to save money, while also aiming to hit its recycling target of 50 per cent.

The under-construction waste treatment plant at Allerton Park, which is due to be operational in 2018, will separate any remaining recyclable material from the waste collected by the council, helping it achieve its target.

Following a collapse in the commodities market for dry recyclables, the council is also receiving significantly less from the sale of materials it collects from kerbside collections.

Cllr Lis said: "This option would be simpler for residents to follow and would remove the blue bags, which we know have been unpopular.

"Glass, cans and plastics would be collected fortnightly rather than monthly, and we believe the easier arrangements would lead to an increase in recycling.

“Whereas previously the council could offset some of the costs of operating the service from selling glass, cans, plastics and paper, we now have to pay to send these materials for processing, with an adverse budget swing of about £400,000 per year."

Cllr Lis said given the current financial climate, it is not sustainable to continue with the existing waste collections.

“If these proposals are approved by councillors, we will be carrying out further studies and consulting widely before introducing any changes," he added.

If plans are agreed at next week's meeting, they will go forward to full council on August 2 for approval. There will then be public consultation ahead of the planned introduction next spring.