THE final phase of Torfaen's Twin Bin project has been delayed until next year because the council is short of 7,000 wheelie bins.

Torfaen council had planned to add around 7,000 more residents to the scheme in September, which would see recycling from homes collected every week and garden and food waste and non-recyclable rubbish collected on alternate weeks.

However, the council has now announced it will not be able to expand the scheme until early next year after its delivery of green wheelie bins was put back due to a lack of supply.

A spokesman for Torfaen council was unable to set a final date for the latest rollout, which will cover Blaenavon, Abersychan, Pontnewynydd and Snatchwood.

Christina Harrhy, the council's Head of Technical Services and Performance, said: "We had to postpone the start of the scheme for reasons that were beyond our control.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

Torfaen council have a contract for their wheelie bins with German-owned company Craemer UK Ltd, which has been in operation for two years and supplies 40 councils across the UK.

A spokesman from Craemer UK Ltd said: “In recent months there has been an unprecedented demand throughout Europe for plastic wheeled bins, this demand has exceeded the production capacity of all European manufactures.

“The main reason for this increased demand was a dramatic increase in waste paper collection by both local authorities and private waste collectors.

“In addition to this, UK local authorities have also continued to place significant orders for bins in order to meet recycling targets set by the European Union.”

After the rollout is completed next year, more than 38,000 homes will be on the scheme which already covers Ponthir, Sebastopol, Croesyceiliog, Upper Cwmbran and Fairwater.

Residents in Trevethin, Penygarn, St Cadocs, Wainfelin, Brynwern, New Inn, Pontypool and Cwmynyscoy were added to the scheme in February this year.