RESIDENTS are being asked to prepare for disruption to their refuse collections as Hyndburn's new recycling system launches.

Yesterday the council switched from five collection rounds to six ,with every home in the borough having to put out a new blue box once a fortnight.

The box will take glass and cans and there will be a white bag for paper.

In addition, 6,000 homes with gardens have been given a green wheelie bin for garden waste and a grey one for non-recyclable materials. These will be emptied on alternate weeks.

A further 6,000 homes in the priority wards of Barnfield, Spring Hill, Central and Church will be given grey wheelie bins in June.

The schemes have been introduced as a result of three successful funding bids worth £875,000, including one of £275,000 to the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Government recycling targets mean the council has to recycle 12 per cent of household rubbish by the end of 2003/04.

The target increases to 18 per cent the following year. County targets increase those figures to 32 per cent and 38 per cent respectively.

The council currently only recycles six per cent of its rubbish. "We apologise in advance to people we miss on the rounds and problems that occur," said Steve Todd, chief environmental services officer.

"We have tried to do everything we can but because we are dealing with so many properties we know there are going to be problems."

Anyone who experiences problems should call the waste line number on 01254 399988.