WEEKLY bin collections are unlikely to make a comeback in Worcester, Wychavon and the Wyre Forest despite a Government attempt at offering financial incentives.

Malvern Hills District Council could benefit, however, from a new quarter of a billion pound fund – set up to help local authorities in England switch from fortnightly to weekly bin rounds – as it never switched away from the weekly collection scheme.

While Worcester has indicated it is willing to take a glance at the proposals Wyre Forest has ruled out returning to the old system while Wychavon said such a move would be “foolish” considering nearly nine out 10 residents are satisified with fornightly collections and recycling rates have almost doubled.

Councillor Emma Stokes, board member for environment and contracted services at Wychavon District Council, said: “In the face of such positive statistics it could be seen as foolish to return to weekly collections which would inevitably cost the taxpayer more in the future.”

Ruth Mullen, corporate director for service delivery at Worcester City Council, said: “Questions about funding sources, targets, incentives and cost can only be answered once we have the full information. We will then look at the implications over the medium-term.

“It is worth noting, however, that recycling in Worcester is at 40 per cent and works extremely effectively.

“If changes are to be made then we would need to be clear about the benefits.”

The £250 million fund, expected to be handed out from April, was unveilved by communities minister Eric Pickles in the run-up to the Conservative party conference in Manchester and the policy is being seen as delivering on a pledge the party made in opposition.

The Government came under fire in June following its waste review when it was revealed that councils would not have to bring back weekly bin collections and householders would not be penalised for “minor mistakes” when putting out their bins.

Funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government will be given to English local authorities which guarantee to retain or reinstate weekly waste collections for at least five years and which demonstrate the potential to increase recycling rates or provide other environmental benefits such as reducing fly-tipping and litter.

This means the offer could benefit Malvern Hills District Council.

Councillor Bronwen Behan, the council’s portfolio holder for environmental control, said: “This council has made waste management a priority and has already invested additional money into ensuring that its weekly waste collection service is maintained.

“These service arrangements and recent improvements have been made in consultation with our customers.

“Once further details of the proposed scheme are available we shall certainly look at these and explore how the scheme might help us to further improve our recycling and refuse collections services.”