THE amount of rubbish being recycled across Wyre Forest has already doubled after the partial introduction of a kerbside collection scheme.

Thousands more homes across the district are due to join the "rethink rubbish" challenge in the next two months in phases three and four of the initiative.

Encouraging early signs suggest the scheme is already having a major impact on the amount of paper, glass, cardboard, plastic and aluminium being recycled.

Some 17,000 homes are now involved in the scheme - and already the recycling rate has risen to about 15 per cent, said Councillor Keith Robertson, council executive member responsible for refuse collections.

"Members of the public have embraced the new scheme," he explained. "In the beginning, it took a bit of getting used to but now we are recycling over 15 per cent of rubbish, approximately double that of last year."

The combined weekly kerbside recycling and fortnightly wheelie bin collections will start in parts of Spennells and Offmore, Birchen Coppice, parts of Franche and Marlpool, Stourport town centre, Bark Hill in Bewdley, High Habberley and Sutton Park Road area on February 9.

Thousands more homes will come on line during March.

Council chiefs hope to then concentrate on getting the scheme introduced in isolated rural areas and in multiple-occupation flats and houses during the next financial year.

The initiative, which started in some areas in July, was designed to boost the dire recycling rates in the district, which stood at six per cent last year.

Roadshows will take place, beginning next week, in areas involved in the third phase.

They take place as follows:

January 27: Duke Place car park; 28 - Spennells Nature Reserve; 29 - Dog Lane car park, Bewdley; February 3 - Land Oak car park, Wyre Forest District Council planning offices; 4 - Stourport Civic Centre car park; 5 - Birchen Coppice community centre car park; 6 - Wilton Avenue community centre car park.

Staff will be on hand to answer queries about the scheme at each location from 11am to 1pm.

Anyone with queries about recycling or the roadshows should contact Wyre Forest District Council's customer services desk on 01562 732928.