COUNCIL chiefs are hailing a £1 million recycling initiative at thousands of homes a success, despite criticisms that some waste will be left uncollected for up to two weeks during hot summer days.

COUNCIL chiefs are hailing a £1 million recycling initiative at thousands of homes a success, despite criticisms that some waste will be left uncollected for up to two weeks during hot summer days.

Mid Suffolk District Council argues that the first phase of its new twin-bin recycling scheme has exceeded expected targets within three months of its introduction and has increased recycling rates by nearly 29%.

The new twin-bin scheme, which was introduced to meet statutory Government targets, has meant recyclables such as paper, card, plastics and cans are removed from the kerbside – rather than depending on householders to take them to recycling banks.

Rubbish collectors take one type of waste away one week, and another type the following week, leaving some waste rotting uncollected for up to two weeks at a time, leading to criticism from some people concerned about smells and vermin during the hot summer days.

But Paul Lewis, waste and environmental co-ordinator, said: "To reach these kind of targets so early in the scheme is tremendous, far exceeding our expectations and is testament to our resident's commitment to recycling.

"We now want to focus on rolling out the scheme to the rest of the district as soon as possible.''

The council anticipates another 6,000 households will be included in the scheme in April next year and expect the whole district to be included by the end of 2005.

Jeffrey Bowden, chairman of Haughley Parish Council and lord of the manor for the village, said he is concerned waste may start to smell in the hot weather and the district council may consider reviewing how quickly they collect rubbish.

But he believes those people who were very concerned have now accepted the new system.

He said: "A lot of people were griping when this first started, but given a few weeks and people got used to it, and it is not really a problem. Frankly, I do not see a problem.''

Despite hailing the pilot scheme as a success, the council is seeking user-feedback to ensure the scheme is working to its maximum potential. All householders in the pilot scheme are being urged to complete a feedback form, the results of which will be used to adapt any operational aspects of the scheme where appropriate.

The council has received over £1m funding so far to implement the twin bin scheme and the towns and villages currently in the scheme include Haughley, Thurston, Elmswell, Debenham, Eye and Claydon.