FORTNIGHTLY refuse collections will be introduced in Abergavenny and surrounding areas in June 2011 with 100 per cent of households fortnightly by the end of August.

In a report on municipal waste to members of the Bryn y Cwm Committee, Monmouthshire County Council operations manager Glyn Edmunds told the meeting that the county had disposed of 47,784 tonnes of municipal waste between April 2009 and March 2010 - the lowest amount since 2001.

This resulted in MCC exceeding the Welsh Assembly waste target for the year by just over one per cent, at 41.3 per cent.

The county needs to reduce the amount of municipal waste each year in line with targets set by WAG, from 40 per cent during 2009/2010 to 76 per cent by 2024/2025. The next recycling target is 52 per cent by March 2013.

Since the introduction of recycling bags, the county has increased in recycling from 22nd in Wales to fifth and second in Wales for recycling green waste.

If the council do not stick to 40 per cent recycling, they will be fined £200 per tonne, this equates to £2,000 per lorry load.

To help achieve these targets, MCC are introducing fortnightly refuse collections and weekly recycling collects, which has already started in some parts of the county.

Mr Edmunds said, "We didn't want to introduce fortnightly collections until recycling was controlled.

"The previous 'blackbox' scheme collected 77 tonnes per week but the introduction of the bags has seen recycling increase to 80,000 tonnes per week.

"In June 2011, fortnightly collections will begin in Abergavenny and surrounding areas, 100 per cent of households will be fortnightly by the end of August.

However, some councillors had concerns about households who would not recycle and envisaged a problem with rats.

Mr Edmunds said that they are working with the local housing associations to educate their tenants about the benefits of recycling.

Leaflets explaining the scheme and calendar showing what days refuge will be collected will be delivered to each household.

Since the scheme began in Magor and Undy in July last year, figures show that recycling in this area has increased.

To help the council achieve the figures set by WAG, householders are being encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle.