PLANS to introduce kerbside glass recycling have been approved by Uttlesford District Council’s cabinet.

At its meeting on Thursday the cabinet also gave the go-ahead to replacing the current brown bins with smaller kitchen caddies and moving to a four-day week for collections.

These changes, which form part of the authority’s Municipal Waste Management Strategy, are likely to be put in place in Spring 2012.

A decision on the other major change to collection procedures - introducing a subscription-based green waste collection – has been deferred until the October cabinet meeting so that parish councils have more time to decide if they want to keep the current communal green waste skip service, or indeed pay to start the service in their area.

At the moment 21 parishes have this service, while 39 do not. The district council is proposing to stop funding this skip service in light of the plans to introduce the kerbside collection.

At the meeting, members also formally noted the responses that had been received from the public and parish councils.

Cabinet member for environmental services Cllr Susan Barker said: “The council is very grateful to all the residents and parish councils who have taken the time to contact us since we announced these proposals. The feedback has been very useful and has all been considered carefully.

“While some parish councils have already said they would be interested in paying to keep the garden waste skip services, there are others which have not yet been able to reach a decision.

“As the skip service is tied in with the introduction of the kerbside collection service, we have decided to defer a decision until next month.

“In the meantime I am delighted that we will be able to offer an improved recycling service in terms of glass collection and introducing the kitchen caddies. These improvements will deal with issues which are frequently raised by many residents.”

More than 1,400 residents have expressed an interest in the kerbside garden waste service.

Anyone who wishes to add their name to the list can find the form and relevant information at uttlesford.gov.uk

• WILL you be signing up to the new subscription-based garden waste service? E-mail editor@saffronwalden-reporter.co.uk