A CONTROVERSIAL fortnightly bin collection project in Newport is to be extended until the summer.

Some residents complained about the scheme but it appears it has payed dividends for the city's campaign to reduce the amount of rubbish being taken to the tip - a national concern.

The council's 2xRecycling scheme involves picking up non-recycable rubbish once a fortnight and the households involved have weekly green box and fortnightly garden waste collections.

An average of four out of every five houses have been putting their recycling boxes out for collection during February while recycling rates continue to be a steady 41% above average.

Now into its sixth month of operation, the pilot was scheduled to finish in March but is being extended until the summer for further evaluation.

Based on the loads of Wastesavers vehicles serving pilot streets in February, houses on the scheme are still recycling at an average of 250kg per year - the average for non-pilot houses is 177kg per year.

It has also been found that:

* 92% of pilot scheme houses on the Caerleon round were putting recycling boxes out for collection compared to 78% of non-pilot houses on similar streets in the same area.

* 146 out of 206 houses from pilot streets on the Pill round were also putting out their boxes for collection

* refuse collection vehicles now collect an average of 46 tonnes less rubbish per week or 30% less compared to the same period last year.

Ron Jones, Newport's cabinet member for transport and sustainable development, said: "There is no good reason why 100% of people shouldn't recycle, but some of them need a gentle nudge in that direction.

"We are now concentrating on identifying, monitoring and, as a last resort, prosecuting people who have ignored that gentle nudge."

More information about Newport's recycling schemes can be found on the council website or by calling the council contact centre.

For further information residents can call 01633 656656 or visit the website www.newport.gov.uk/recyclefornewport.