THE programme for the introduction of wheelie bins in the Keighley area has been outlined by Bradford council.

The new bins, which hold roughly double the capacity of the conventional models, will be phased in during March and introduced through the whole of the area by October.

Council officers say the new models will lead to less rubbish on the streets, which will in turn help to clean up neighbourhoods dramatically.

The new system will also safeguard dustbin men from injuries caused by objects sticking out of plastic refuse bags. This complies with health and safety laws introduced in 1992.

The bins will be introduced to each area over a four-week period that will include a week of leaflet deliveries and a week of exhibitions, followed by the delivery of the bins and the first collection in the following fortnight.

Oxenhope, Cullingworth, Denholme, Harden and Wilsden will have the first leaflet delivery on the week beginning March 13, followed by an exhibition from March 20, delivery from March 27 and the first collection from April 3.

Haworth, Oakworth, Exley Head and Fell Lane will have a leaflet delivery from May 2, exhibitions from May 8, bin delivery from May 15 and the first collection from May 22.

Braithwaite, Guard House, Utley and Beechcliffe will have leaflets delivered in the week beginning June 19, exhibitions from June 26, bin delivery from July 3 and the first collection from July 10.

Ingrow, Spring Bank, Thwaites, Worth Village and Lawkholme will have leaflets from August 1, exhibitions from August 8, bin delivery from August 14 and the first collection from August 21.

And finally, Riddlesden and Bingley will have a leaflet drop from September 18, exhibitions from September 25, delivery from October 2 and collection from October 9.

Councillor Keith Thomson, who is responsible for waste policies at Bradford council, says the system will be more efficient and ecologically sound than the current method.

He says: "Black bin liners are an inferior method that quite often lead to litter being scattered around and they are poor in terms of environmental health.

"The new bins will do away with black bin liners, which often take hundreds of years to decompose in waste sites, and the bins themselves will be made of 100 per cent recycled plastic."

Officers from the cleansing department have visited neighbourhood forums where locals have voiced concerns about leaving the bins on pavements and having to wheel them into position.

Cllr Thomson adds: "If their circumstances are such that it is not reasonable to have one we will make other arrangements.

"If an elderly person is unable to wheel bins out, or has no-one else who can do it for them, we will arrange for someone to move the bin or keep them on the black bin -liner system."

The council has so far introduced wheelie bins to half of the 180,000 homes in the Bradford district.

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