A SENIOR councillor has denied that a ‘buy it and try it’ scheme for a new garden waste bin is gambling with taxpayers’ money.

Eastleigh Borough Council plans to replace its current garden waste sacks with larger wheelie bins in the hope of increasing recycling and its income.

Cllr Louise Bloom said she believed the council’s proposal to run a trial for the wheelie bin scheme, in which people can opt out after six weeks and get their money back, would prove successful.

“I certainly wouldn’t use the word gambling – I certainly wouldn’t gamble with Eastleigh taxpayers’ money,” she said. It’s an innovative way to introduce the scheme.”

Around 11,000 people use the sack system across the borough, paying £30 per year.

Under the scheme, residents, who already have bins for household waste and recycling would replace their weekly-collected 90-litre sacks with a fortnightly-collected 240-litre bin – an increase of a third.

The cost would be unchanged for this year then increase in line with council policy.

But the council is offering the scheme on a ‘buy it and try it basis’, so those not satisfied with the arrangement after six weeks can cancel it and get their money back.

Under the proposals, the council would spend £276,000 on 13,500 bins and a further £20,000 to upgrade the IT system, but it is thought this could be recouped in eight years.

A report estimates the potential income at £353,000 this year, a drop of £13,000 from current earnings, but then a rise to £437,000 in 2015/2016 – an increase of £71,000, including a £19,000 saving on staffing and vehicles.

The council report says the scheme will reduce collection and disposal costs, increase income and improve its recycling performance.

Asked if there was a danger that the council could end up losing vast numbers of people who cancelled after the ‘free’ six weeks, Cllr Bloom said: “We just don’t think that’s going to happen.

“We anticipate there will be a small drop off. We anticipate most people will be happy.”

Householders without side access who have to bring waste through the home will be allowed to continue with the bag system.

Those residents will get two 90-litre bags for fortnightly collection.

Cabinet members will discuss the plans tomorrow.