WEEKLY bin collections are to be re-introduced in a North-East borough after complaints from residents.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has agreed to an eight-week trial period next year following consultation and negative feedback from householders about the controversial fortnightly service.

Since February 2005, the council has stepped up its recycling scheme and scrapped weekly household waste collections.

However, the council's cabinet has now agreed to analyse the impact of a return to weekly refuse collections, starting with a two-month trial next year.

If the weekly service is restored, then the borough will become the first in the area to complete a U-turn.

Council leader George Dunning said: "The Labour administration, in its election manifesto, promised to look at this issue because of the feedback we were receiving on the doorsteps.

"We are planning an eight-week trial period of a weekly bin collection right across the borough, and will analyse the effects then decide what to do in the future."

The analysis surrounding waste collections also involves an ongoing review of kerbside waste and recycling collections, with residents to be consulted.

Stockton Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council and Darlington Borough Council have all kept weekly collections and have no plans to change.

Mike Clarke, spokesman for Middlesbrough Council, said: "We offer a weekly collection and have no plans to change, although we are always looking at ways to improve it."

Hambleton District Council, in North Yorkshire, operates a fortnightly service and Richmondshire District Council, also North Yorkshire, and Hartlepool Borough Council are in the process of transferring to a fortnightly service.

A spokeswoman for Richmondshire District Council said: "Fifty-five per cent have a fortnightly collection and we aim to have everyone the same by 2010-11."

Fiona Srogi, Hartlepool Council's waste services officer, said: "The scheme has worked well in other parts of the town, and household waste recycling is currently running at 36 per cent.

"We are confident that the expansion will help us to increase that figure still further."

In an attempt to improve fly-tipping around the Redcar and Cleveland borough, residents are also being offered a new service, where the council will pick up bulky items free of charge.

The Junk Job service, which will be launched on Monday, will enable large, single items, such as a bathroom suite, three-piece suite or fridge, to be collected by the council.

The scheme allows each household in the borough to receive up to three free collections each year.