RUBBISH could be collected fortnightly to save the council millions of pounds. A weekly food waste collection is due to be trialled in a part of North Somerset to see if general waste can be collected fortnightly instead of every week. North Somerset Coun

RUBBISH could be collected fortnightly to save the council millions of pounds.A weekly food waste collection is due to be trialled in a part of North Somerset to see if general waste can be collected fortnightly instead of every week.North Somerset Council will collect residual rubbish every two weeks if the trial is successful and the scheme is adopted.Council bosses say that if the current scheme is not improved it will cost an estimated £1 million in Government permits in 2010 rising by 50 per cent every year after.Deborah Yamanaka, the council's executive member for the environment, said: "It's something we are definitely looking at for the future."We will be trialling the kitchen waste weekly collection in one part of the district to see how it goes."The reason for doing it would be to save money. "We would provide bins, but they're not suitable for all homes in the district and there would also be plastic bags still in use."But some councillors say buying thousands of specialist bins will mean a huge rise in council tax and leaving rubbish for two weeks could be hazardous.Residents in Bristol have complained that food waste bins cause their homes to smell.Councillor Peter Bryant, vice-chairman of the Environmental Services Policy and Scrutiny Panel, said: "I think Deborah Yamanaka is completely out of control."She has not considered the needs of council taxpayers and I'm absolutely against this and will be opposing it all the way."It's going to cause huge problems and could attract vermin as well. Specialist bins cost a huge amount and I'm sure it will mean a huge rise in council tax."The council's development and environment department said they have not ordered the bins for next year but the food waste ones would be needed for the scheme.The council has also announced it will introduce plastic recycling banks in Weston, Backwell and Portishead and extend green recycling to the whole of the district.Plans are also under way for a £2million recycling centre at Weston Civic Amenity Site.David Turner, the council's director of development and environment, said: "We'd rather be putting council taxpayer's money into improving services than in Government taxes.The council's executive will vote on the recommendations on October 24.