A NEW refuse collection system for homes in Teesdale will be discussed by councillors today.

Teesdale District Council will consider a report by officers overseeing the introduction of a wheelie bin system for thousands of people in the dale.

The council has already contacted residents to explain the changes to their refuse collection and recycling service.

Residents will now be provided with 180-litre wheeled bins and boxes for recyclable materials, such as glass, paper and aluminium.

The council is also looking to buy a refuse vehicle to collect and compact residents' rubbish before it is taken to a waste transfer and recycling site.

The authority is keen to buy a new vehicle as soon as possible to avoid having to hire one, which could cost as much as £900 a week.

Some funding for the scheme will come from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair (Defra), as part of the Government's green waste recycling initiative.

Council members will also discuss a charge of £15 for the collection of large items of household waste, such as electrical goods, which will be run by the council's bulky domestic waste service.