WILTSHIRE Council is changing the kerbside recycling collection service in a bid to make it easier to use and more efficient.

The changes will enable more material to be placed in the blue-lidded bin and more efficient routes will see fewer collection vehicles on the road, reducing the council's impact on the environment as part of its pledge to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Letters are being sent to every household in Wiltshire to inform them of their new collection day. Once residents have received their letters, they can go online to check their collection day and print off a collection calendar.

Recycle cans, tins, aerosols, paper, cardboard, cartons, foil, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays in the blue-lid bin.

Recycle glass bottles and jars and bagged, dry textiles in the black box.

The blue-lid bins and black boxes will be emptied fortnightly on the same day using new recycling collection vehicles.

Coun Bridget Wayman said "These improvements to the kerbside recycling service will make it even easier for people to recycle their waste and help us increase the amount of waste we recycle.

"The service changes will take place from February 24 to 20 March 20 so we are asking people to look out for a letter which will tell them the dates of their last black box and blue lidded bin collection under the current system and the date of their first collection under the new system. Once they have received their letters, people can also visit our website to find out when their recycling collection day will be under the new arrangements.

"The collection day changes will improve the efficiency of our rounds and reduce the number of vehicles on our roads. Fewer vehicles mean we will reduce our environmental impact and contribute to our aim of becoming a carbon neutral council by 2030."

Recycling tips:

• Wash and squash all cans, tins, plastic and cartons where possible

• Bottles, jars, cans, cartons and aerosols should be empty; lids can be left on

• Flatten cardboard boxes to make more room in your bin

If you think you may not have enough room in your blue lidded bin, please try squashing and flattening as much of your recycling as possible for the first few collections to see if this means you could manage. Larger or additional blue lidded bins will not be delivered until residents have first tried the new service and demonstrated to themselves that, despite squashing and flattening materials, they need additional capacity. They can then request a larger or additional blue lidded bin via Wiltshire Council's website.