RESIDENTS in Fareham are heading towards alternate week bin collections because they are not meeting recycling targets

Council chiefs warned the fortnightly collections would go ahead if people didn't increase their recycling by 13 per cent in the next two weeks.

Now they have even agreed to release funding to purchase larger wheelie bins and garden waste sacks to help residents cope with two weeks' worth of rubbish in preparation for the new scheme, which is likely to start in June.

The amount of waste being recycled in the borough fell from 27.38 per cent to 27.04 per cent during the last fortnight from February 7 to February 20.

The average rate during a three-month bid to boost recycling is 26.40 per cent - more than 13 per cent short of a government target of 40 per cent.

Civic chiefs say they are being forced in the direction of fortnightly rubbish collections because figures are not improving sufficiently enough to increase the borough's recycling rates overall.

The problem stems from the fact that the government has increased the town's recycling target because of it's good recycling rates in the past.

Health chief Councillor Brian Bayford said a big push was needed from Fareham residents to meet that figure.

He said: "The government target is not remotely near and if we are to reach this target we need to make a much bigger effort.

"The alternate weekly collections are one method of making people recycle more of their waste.

"At present, it is becoming clear that we need more measures brought in to help improve the amount we recycle."