A RADICAL revamp of refuse collections in Preston and South Ribble is on the cards as the two councils strive to achieve government targets.

In Preston, half of all households have already had collections of non-recyclable rubbish cut to once a fortnight, and now a further 7,000 homes are set to join the scheme.

In South Ribble, a similar scheme is being considered for all homes, and there are plans to extend recycling to include plastic bottles and cardboard.

South Ribble Councillor David Howarth, portfolio holder for environment and green issue, said: "At the moment residents have their different types of rubbish collected on different days. We want to make it so the collections fall on the same day each week with general refuse one week and recycled refuse the next.

"It will not reduce rubbish collection, it will just mean it is collected in a different way."

The scheme, which is currently out to public consulation, could spell the end of a black bag collection, with residents getting a second smaller wheelie bin for non-recyclable rubbish. If the scheme is agreed, it could be brought in by next June. Coun Howarth said: "Something needs to be done because space for landfill is going down and we're running out of space."

It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of household waste is recyclable.

South Ribble recycled 21 per cent of its rubbish in 2003/4 financial year and Preston 19 per cent.

Both councils must recycle and compost 36 per cent of its waste by 2005 and 58 per cent by 2015 as part of the Lancashire Municipal Waste Management Strategy.

Amy Troner, senior recycling officer at Preston City Council, said: "We've found the properties on the twin bin and box scheme recycle more compared to those with just blue boxes."

A pilot scheme to put 7000 homes without gardens onto a scheme to include the recycling of kitchen waste for compost will start next year.

Miss Troner said: "People are really getting into it and we are getting requests for more and more boxes and we could see all of Preston doing it. But it's one step at a time."