RESIDENTS in the Vale and Broadway are to lose their door-step green waste collection from April 18.

But the good news is that a glass collection service is to be introduced in the Autumn.

In a shake-up of the refuse service, green fingered folk will no longer be able to put out a bag of garden rubbish for collection free of charge. Instead they are to be encouraged to recycle at home, or take the waste directly to the tip.

Head of client services at Wychavon District Council, Sharon Caswell said: "Householders can still take their garden waste to the Hill and Moor site but we hope they will recycle it at home using low cost composting bins available from us." Householders will still be able to take large amounts of green waste to the tip to be turned into soil conditioner. The result is then sold back to householders at a cost of £5 for three 30-litre bags which includes delivery to the door. To order a composter contact the department on 0845 6000323.

In another move to make the service more efficient and cost effective, people will be asked to put out their general household refuse at the front of their properties instead of using the back door collection currently in operation.

They will be picked up at the same time the refuse lorry arrives which will save mounds of bags being piled together on pavements for hours on end.

Exemptions will only be allowed in households where no one is physically able to place the sacks at the front edge of the property. In those cases residents will need to contact the council to discuss alternative arrangements.

Leaflets detailing all the changes to the service, including future plans, are to be dropped through letterboxes by April 4.

The glass box scheme scheduled to come in sometime this autumn will initially be offered to 73 per cent of households, and if successful could be extended.