NORTH Somerset's 'recycling revolution' moves a step closer next week when new contractors take over the existing recycling and waste service.

From Monday, March 1, residents will be able to add aerosols to their fortnightly green recycling box collections and new services including additional staff to help customers recycle as much of their waste as possible will begin at household waste and recycling centres.

Weekly recycling collections will begin later in the year, making it easier for everyone to recycle more materials, more often.

As well as items already collected, extra materials including plastics, all types of cardboard, food and drink cartons and household batteries will also be collected under the green box scheme, when services begin in the summer.

At the same time weekly food waste collection will be introduced and green garden waste will continue to be picked up every other week.

As a result of the new, improved service, any remaining non-recyclable waste will only be collected fortnightly from a wheeled bin.

Residents without space for a wheeled bin will receive a limited supply of plastic sacks.

Letters notifying people about which of the two they will receive will be sent out later this month.

The moves are all part of North Somerset Council's plan to spend less money on sending waste to landfill.

Executive member for the environment councillor Carl Francis-Pester said: "This year we're going to have to spend £4million just to get rid of the rubbish in North Somerset.

"This situation must not continue – with the ever-increasing costs and government taxes we have to pay for each tonne of waste we send to landfill, this figure could easily double by 2016 if we don't start changing the way we all deal with our waste."

Other changes being introduced later on in the year include alterations to collection days at the start of May so whole towns in the district have all their recycling and waste collected on the same day, collections on Bank Holidays, and an earlier start time of 7am for collections.

For more details on the changes go to www.n-somerset.gov.uk/revolution.