THE number of bin collections in Bolton is to be halved to help the council meet strict recycling targets.

Under the plans, residents' black wheelie bins will be emptied once a fortnight -- instead of the current rate of once a week.

Council chiefs hope the idea will force people to use new recycling containers which will be given to householders.

But critics of the scheme believe it could lead to increased fly tipping and public health problems.

Rita Lilley, chairman of the Hall i'th' Wood Residents Association, said: "I think the council needs to have a rethink. It is far better to have the wheelie bins emptied each week.

"There's a lot of fly-tipping in the area as it is. If people have to wait a fortnight for their main rubbish to be emptied, it is going to get worse."

In a consultation paper for the Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Greater Manchester, Bolton Council revealed it is working towards alternating weekly collections for recyclable and residual household waste in some parts of the borough.

Cllr Donald Grime, who as the executive member for direct services is responsible for refuse collection, said the scheme would eventually be spread to the rest of the borough.

He added that he could see the first changes to collection schedules being made in the next two or three years.

"I believe some areas will be more receptive to this scheme and we would hope to introduce it there fairly quickly."

"We don't want to force people into it. Our intention is to get the co-operation of residents by educating them of the need to recycle."

Within three years, all local authorities will have to recycle at least 18 per cent of waste under Government directives to bring Britain in line with the rest of Europe.

The target means waste management officers in Bolton will have to treble the amount of rubbish they currently recycle or face stiff financial penalties. To tackle the problem, Bolton Council refuse chiefs are preparing to increase the number of homes equipped with green recycling boxes for bottles or cans and an extra green wheelie bin for gardening waste in time for the summer. All homes will be supplied with the recycling bins before the wheelie bin collections are halved.

Together with sacks of waste paper -- currently available to 95 per cent of the borough's homes -- some residents will soon have four different containers into which to sort their rubbish.

But Cllr Paul Brierley, the Conservative spokesman on Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Waste Authority, said he had "grave reservations" about the plans.

He believes that cutting the number of collections for normal waste could lead many residents, not willing to separate their rubbish, to resort to fly tipping or littering.

Cllr Brierley said: "The reduction of residual waste collection to fortnightly could have public health implications in terms of increased odour and rodent problems." "Besides how many homes have space for two collection bins?

"I believe this would represent a substantial deterioration in service for residents which in view of the 8.5 per cent increase in our council tax is yet another kick in the teeth."