Email help with waste collection

Oxford City Council hopes the new scheme will double recycling to 40%

Residents in Oxford are being urged to sign up to an email and text message service to help them get used to a new fortnightly waste collection scheme.

New, separate rubbish bins and recycling boxes are being distributed to households in the area.

Collections will be made on alternate weeks across the city by Spring, 2007.

The council is asking residents to sign up to receive an email or a text before collections are due to remind them which bin or box to put out.

The scheme already includes a garden waste and cardboard collection service.

Double recycling

Under the new scheme, garden waste and wheelie bins will be collected one week and recyclable materials the next on an alternate basis.

The city council said it currently recycles around 19% of its waste, but is hoping that the new service will push that figure beyond 40%.

Councillor Jean Fooks, executive member for a cleaner city, said: "We're doing all we can to introduce these new recycling services as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.

"Using email and text to alert people to their new collection arrangements and to answer their questions is a great way to help make sure the new services run smoothly."