Garden clippings could be the next type of waste to be recycled in Great Yarmouth as the council looks to almost double the amount it recycles by 2020 and avoid increasing landfill taxes and fines.

Garden clippings could be the next type of waste to be recycled in Great Yarmouth as the council looks to almost double the amount it recycles

by 2020 and avoid increasing landfill taxes and fines.

Officers are looking at bringing in a system where people empty their vegetable peelings and green rubbish into a new bin that would be emptied on Saturdays once a fortnight.

Jim Shrimplin the council's portfolio holder for the environment, said the benefits of a scheme were being investigated but stressed that it was probably two years away from being implemented.

He said: “I have had the officers looking at a garden waste recycling scheme and their report will be back in about two weeks. It would probably be a fortnightly collection using the same vehicles we usually do, but on a Saturday when they are not being used.

“Almost certainly we would have to charge for the service as North Norfolk does. It would be fairer if the people who used it paid for it. We are looking towards the next step. It would be within the next two years as it takes a while to set it up, but the report is imminent.”

Mr Shrimplin said the twin bin system had helped the borough achieve an estimated recycling rate of 27pc which was “well ahead” of neighbouring councils if garden waste was taken out of the equation, but behind if it wasn't.

He said he was confident the council could reach a 30pc target by 2010 and would work hard to achieve 50pc by 2020.

Rob Cole, borough recycling officer, confirmed he was looking into a garden waste scheme and said there were many reasons to cheer local households for their recycling efforts. Tonnage of glass being taken to bottle banks had tripled since the introduction of the twin bin system he said, adding that locals threw out 370kg of rubbish per head - making them the second lowest waste-producing district in Norfolk.

Meanwhile, Norfolk County Council, the authority responsible for disposing of waste was this week facing higher landfill taxes and new rules aimed at cutting the amount of biodegradable waste being buried in the ground.

A county council spokesman said that not meeting the new criteria that come into force in 2009 would cost council tax payers millions. She said the aim was to reduce the environmental impact of dumping biodegradable waste like food and paper in airtight landfill where it produced methane and liquids which had to be disposed of.

Home composting and real nappies were making a difference but new ways were needed to treat waste, she added. Garden waste can be disposed of for free at the household recycling site at Caister. New carton-disposal bins have also sprung up at Somerfield, Tesco Pasteur Road, Sainsbury and Asda.

Residents have until next Friday to have their say on the factors they feel are most important to them when considering future solutions to waste.

Survey's can be completed online at www.norfolk.gov.uk/future ofwaste

Questionnaires can be picked up at public libraries and customer service centres throughout the county, or call 0844 800 8004 to request a copy.