PLANS to transform rubbish and recycling collection services in the New Forest have been fully approved.

New Forest District Council’s proposals to reduce waste and improve their recycling rates in line with national targets were approved at a full council meeting on July 11.

Changes to the service will be implemented in phases from 2024.

Council leader Cllr Edward Heron said: “Now our plans have been approved, we can start planning the implementation of the new service which will make recycling easier for our residents and reduce our impact on the environment.

“We will improve recycling in the district by collecting more items from the kerbside, including brand new weekly food waste collections.”

Hampshire County Council are planning a new facility for waste disposal, expected in 2024. The new facility will allow the district authority to collect new materials from the kerbside, like foil, drinks cartons, and a wider range of plastics, alongside glass, aerosols, tins and cans, in a wheelie bin. Paper and card will be collected separately in a reusable bag.

Cllr Steve Davies, portfolio holder for environment, added: “We’re aiming to boost our recycling rate from just 34 per cent to at least the national target of 65 per cent by 2035.”

Residents can read the new waste strategy at newforest.gov.uk/wastestrategy or request a print version by contacting the council’s customer services.