A NEW recycling system that replaces bins with plastic bags is being trialled in a Darwen street following a spate of fly-tipping and contamination.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is sending out letters asking residents of Olive Lane not to fill their grey bins and instead start using the clear bags which will be posted through letterboxes on collection day.

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The scheme will be trialled in two blocks in Olive Lane, where rats had been found around several properties due to contaminated recycling bins.

But the move has been met with a mixed response from residents.

Danielle Stewart, 28, said: “I saw a rat in my mum’s garden the other day, she lives down the road.

“But I don’t see how this idea will work because there’s still going to be general waste everywhere.”

Kim Bell, 21, welcomed the initiative, saying: “At least you’ll be able to see exactly what people put in there.Rubbish is such a huge problem around here and we’ve got to do something.”

Sudell ward councillor Jane Oates, who has met with Darwen town councillor Eileen Entwistle and environment and sustainability official Stuart Hammond to discuss the issue, is hopeful the system will help Olive Lane become a better place to live in.

She said: “We do not want the grey bins to be out in the backs at all, because people are spoiling the good work being done when it comes to recycling.

“I don’t understand why people want to live in this type of atmosphere.

“This will be a way of sorting things out as the clear bags will allow us to see exactly what people are putting in there and, hopefully, it will stop the contamination.”

During the trial period, which is expected to last a few months, any grey recycling bins left out will be taken away. If the trial proves a success, the council will consider rolling it out to other streets.

Cllr Entwistle added: “We try to educate people on how important it is to recycle properly, but they don’t seem to get it. I was brought up on recycling but we get these areas that simply do not care. Hopefully this will solve the problem.”