A FRONT door household refuse collection service will shortly be introduced in parts of Pendle.

The six-month pilot scheme, starting in October, is part of Pendle Council's bid to meet government targets for waste recycling.

The trial will take place in Earby, Reedley, Brierfield and parts of Nelson, which are already covered by the authority's innovative REAP recycling scheme.

Collecting rubbish via the front door rather than along narrow back streets will allow split-body refuse wagons, which keep recycleable items such as paper and cans away from ordinary rubbish, to be used. It will also be considerably cheaper and more efficient.

The alternative, to extend the REAP scheme across the borough, would cost £1 million a year.

Councillor Frank Clifford, chairman of the council's services committee, said: "The community has reacted very positively to recycling in the REAP areas where there is already a front door collection of recyclable materials.

"It was felt appropriate, therefore, to trial the front door collection of all household waste in these REAP areas before a final decision is taken whether to introduce this borough-wide."

A final decision will be taken later this year.

Letters will be sent to residents before the trial begins explaining the changes in the collection.

Pendle currently recycles 12 per cent of its household waste compared to a national average of nine per cent. The Government wants it to recycle 17 per cent by 2003 and 25 per cent by 2005.