HOUSEHOLDERS living in Malvern could be limited to two bags of rubbish per week in a bid to meet tough recycling targets.

New rules for rubbish recycling in Malvern Hills look set to be recommended by district council chiefs this evening.

The regulation changes follow the results of a survey showing most Malvern residents supported recycling and two years of work by a district council task group.

Changes being recommended to the executive committee members would see residents bag waste in separate recyclable and refuse sacks.

There will be a weekly limit of two bags for non-recyclable waste, supplied by Malvern Hills District Council in the same way they are delivered now.

And instead of residents being able to buy extra refuse bags from the shop and use those, only liveried bags will be collected.

There is to be no limit on the number of recycling sacks.

However, larger households and those with specific needs, for example disposing of nappies, can apply for extra refuse bags.

Glass will still need to be taken to dedicated bottle banks around the district because of the health and safety risk to refuse collection workers.

The changes are being mooted because of pressure on the district council from Government recycling targets.

Currently, the district recycles 27 per cent of its waste, with the Government looking for 38 per cent recycling rates by 2014.

David Watkins, in charge of environment at the district council, said the district council realised that changes were necessary.

“These proposals limit residual waste to two bags per household which won’t stop people going to household waste sites,” he said.

“If there wasn’t some attempt to cap residual waste to landfill then we would be facing financial penalties from Government in the future.”

He said the recent waste survey had shown 80 per cent of the district citizens were already “good recyclers” and were aware of what was going to landfill.

Coun Watkins said the waste task group recommendations would be considered and if passed the measures will go for debate at the next full council meeting.