ONE of the biggest-ever changes to household waste collection services in West Somerset is on the way this autumn as a major new kerbside 'green scheme' gets underway.

All 16,500 homes across the district, and most households in Taunton Deane, will receive a lightweight recycling crate in which to place mixed paper and card for collection.

The new scheme - part of a countywide initiative - is designed to encourage everyone to sort and recycle waste as part of a major push to meet tough new Government targets.

The district council is working jointly with Somerset County Council and the four other district authorities in the county under the umbrella of the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP).

Households will get separate weekly collections for recyclable materials such as newspaper, magazines, textiles and aluminium using the free lightweight crates.

Kerbside collection of cardboard and paper will be expanded from its present coverage of 75 per cent of West Somerset homes to 100 per cent by December.

Somerset County Council's waste services manager Paula Brooks said: "Residents will be asked to sort, wash and separate their household materials and present them for collection at the kerbside.

"Each crate will be accompanied by information about the new service, explaining which materials will be collected and when."

The aim is to make recycling as accessible as possible to residents and to promote the importance of reducing the significant level of waste currently sent to landfill.

In 2001-02, Somerset produced 299,923 tonnes of household waste of which 15.6 per cent was recycled. Government targets require a recycling performance in excess of 28 per cent by March 2004.

But Somerset is aiming to become one of the highest household waste recyclers in the country.

The SWP has developed and adopted a five-year 'joint improvement plan', launched on Monday, that covers every aspect of waste from abandoned vehicles to landfill sites and refuse collection.

It has also clinched a deal whereby discounts are offered for the collections in more than one district or borough, and secured a Government grant to purchase over 150,000 collection crates and put £500,000 towards running costs.

The changes are being extended to 85 per cent of Taunton Deane and Mendip, 80 per cent of Sedgemoor and the whole of both West and South Somerset and have been adopted for implementation by each of the six authorities by 2007.

West Somerset District Council has decided, however, to "enhance .. rather than replace" what it offers residents and to remain with its service provider, Cleanaway, instead of entering a new agreement under the SWP joint contract. Other parts of the county will be served by Avon Friends of the Earth.

The district council's waste task and finish group, chaired by Cllr Ann Foxhuntley, recommended that recycling boxes for paper and card was the best solution. The council bought the boxes at £1.29 each which came to a total cost of £21,930.

The authority will receive a £54,000 revenue budget and almost £21,000 capital to help the additional services. Another £22,500 will be needed from capital programme.

The money, acquired through a joint bid with DEFRA, will meet the additional costs of £5,000 to deliver the recycling boxes and the increased cost of collecting them.

An innovative RRReuse Scheme (repair, renovate, and reuse) will also be supported to divert unwanted furniture and other bulky waste away from landfill and into repair programmes in partnership with the voluntary sector.

Cllr Colin Hill told Monday night's cabinet meeting that the council needed to be recycling 24 per cent of its waste in just two years and that it currently recycles less than 12 per cent.

"There is no doubt that days when people could put their rubbish in a recycling container are over and there are going to be major changes.

"This is a really expensive business and by doing this we have got away with it dirt cheap and have saved some money," he said.

The SWP plan was unveiled at Dillington House, near Ilminster, at a launch attended by West Somerset district Cllr Stan Taylor, whose portfolio includes waste management: "The process has been a great example of partnership working and will only strengthen the SWP's determination to exceed our statutory targets," he said.

Representatives of Cleanaway and Avon Friends of The Earth were also there with some of the collection vehicles, as were Cllr Foxhuntley and West Somerset recycling officer Barbara Robinson.

Ms Robinson said: "During the past two years, we always believed we were involved with a ground-breaking and forward-thinking review process which had the potential to make a huge positive impact on the services we provide for our residents.

"We have already made significant inroads into delivering the objectives contained within the improvement plan and have set up working groups to monitor progress and plan future initiatives."

SWP vice-chairman Cllr Derek Yeomans said many other new and enhanced waste initiatives would be made available to residents over the coming months.

"By providing a direct separate collection of materials for recycling, the SWP hopes to make recycling as accessible as possible to residents, promoting the importance of reducing the significant level of waste currently sent to landfill."

Roger Wilkin, who managed the joint contract on behalf of the SWP, said: "We are confident that the new recycling services for our residents will be provided in the most efficient and effective manner possible, as a result of working together to achieve our collective goals.

"By making recycling as accessible as possible to our residents and providing a quality, consistent service, we are aiming to exceed our recycling target of 28 per cent recycling by 2004.

"The launch of the schemes from October represents a new era in waste management in the county and will significantly reduce needless and expensive landfill, benefiting the environment through the direct action of the public."