TOWN hall bosses are taking action to prevent any confusion over major changes in the way household rubbish is collected in Bolton.

The new system, which will be introduced before the end of the month, will mean that residents' grey bins - for general household rubbish - will be emptied once a fortnight.

In the week when the grey wheelie bins are not being dealt with, recycling containers will be emptied.

Every home in the borough is being given a green box for recycling glass, tins, foil trays and plastic bottles and a white bag for paper waste.

homes with a garden will also receive a green wheelie bin for garden and kitchen vegetable waste which will be emptied in the same week as the green box and white sack.

The new scheme will be introduced on Monday, June 27, for 28,000 homes in the council wards of Horwich North-east, Horwich and Blackrod, Westhoughton North and Chew Moor, Westhoughton South, Heaton and Lostock, and the Hulton ward.

It will gradually be extended to the rest of the borough. Cllr Roger Hayes, executive member for direct services at Bolton Council said: "I think people mostly understand how it is going to work and we are using a number of methods to explain it."

But he admitted that some people were confused and that the council had received a lot of phone calls.

He said the council would do everything it could to help people understand the new system.

"We have been informing people through the area forums, the Bolton Scene council newspaper and the Bolton Evening News how this will work. There will also be a website, phone line and DVD to help people adapt."

Each household is being notified by letter on which dates the containers will be emptied. The council is facing fines of up to £1.5 million if it does not meet by March, 2006, strict new recycling targets set by the government.

Three recycling officers have been taken on by the council to explain to people how the new system will work. One of them, Laurence Tomlinson, believes it could inspire a new recycling culture in the borough. He said: "We will try to help people over the phone, but if that does not work, we will send them information and even go to their homes."

The DVD will be available on request. Call 01204 336633 or visit www.sort-it.bolton.gov.uk for further details.