Maidstone council has announced another shake-up of its waste collection service in an attempt to improve recycling and save money.

Food waste will be collected weekly, while recyclable waste and other household rubbish will be collected fortnightly, on alternate weeks.

Currently general household waste is collected every week.

Cabinet members heard that the change could help increase the borough’s overall recycling rate from the current 30 per cent to 50 per cent.

All the food waste will be composted. The council estimates that food currently comprises 40 per cent of the rubbish that is thrown away.

Cllr Ben Sherreard (Con), cabinet member for the environment, said: "By collecting recycling one week and waste the next, along with food waste every week, we can increase recycling rates and become more efficient. And residents won’t have to worry about storing rotting food."

Householders will be given a small ‘kitchen caddy’ to collect food waste and a 23-litre bin, with a locking lid, to store food waste for collection every week.

Officers anticipate a saving of more than £100,000 a year. The council expects making the changes will be cost-neutral with grants of up to £500,000 from the Waste and Resources Action Programme, and the Kent Waste Partnership.