TEST Valley has one of the most sophisticated systems for dealing with waste in the country.

Recycling 25 per cent of waste, it leads most other local authorities.

But it costs over £50 per household Peter Jeffs, head of environmental health told the scrutiny committee.

He said difficulties would be many and complex if the council was to try to attain the government's target of 33 per cent recycled waste by 2003 and 40 per cent by 2005.

More recycling centres would bring more complaints about noise, traffic and litter.

The borough was switching to a smaller general rubbish bin which was proving unpopular. In his view, larger bins encouraged householders to put out more for collection and do less towards recycling.