ROSSENDALE'S box and sack recycling scheme is to be replaced with a blue bin - because residents said it's not working.

Lancashire Environmental Fund has agreed to change the trial to a blue bin scheme in response to comments and criticisms from residents and councillors who have participated in the trial.

Liz Hinchliffe, Waste Not Want Not Project Manager, funded by the LEF, said people felt that the box and sack scheme had limited capacity for recycling and did not allow plastics to be recycled.

The blue bin allows plastic bottles to be taken out of the waste stream as well as food and drink cans and glass bottles and jars.

Liz Hinchliffe said: "We are expecting the recycling rate to top over 25 per cent and come into line with other blue bin schemes currently operating in the area.

"We would like to thank the residents who have been involved with the box and sack trial for providing Rossendale Borough Council with valuable data which we have used to assess which collection method is the most popular."

She added: "What's even more exciting is that Rossendale Borough Council will also be collecting cardboard on this round - as a trial - and if successful this will be extended to other areas in the borough."

Blue bins will be distributed to the remaining households week commencing March 22.

Properties that are not suitable for the bins will be issued with blue bags instead. Recycling will begin on an alternate week collection system from April 5.

All residents who are affected by the changes will be leafleted and a number of roadshows have been set up.

The first one is taking place on Monday, March 15, from 4pm - 6.30pm at Whitworth Library; Tuesday, March 16, from 2pm - 5pm at The Village Centre, Crawshawbooth; Wednesday, March 17, from 4pm - 6pm at Cherry Tree Community Centre, Hall Carr and on Thursday, March 18, from 2pm - 5pm at Waterfoot Library.

For more information residents can contact the recycling helpline on 01706 879017 or 01706 878660.