CHANGES to Thurrock's waste collection services and the future of recycling in the borough will take centre stage at tomorrow's (Wednesday, 11 November) meeting of Thurrock Council's cabinet.

The subject has created wide controversy in the borough in recent weeks, with members of the council's own recycling working group in conflict with how the council's ruling group has presented its wishes and findings.

And in recent days conflict has spread to the relationship between workers in the refuse collection teams with some members calling for action as extreme as striking because of the way the council is plotting its waste collection strategy.

The council's various waste disposal contracts are due for renewal in the coming year, which it says "presents an excellent opportunity to adopt a revised waste collection regime that helps us to capture a wider range of recyclable materials at kerbside and generate an income from higher quality materials.

"Wherever possible these disposal contracts should be flexible enough to allow subtle changes within our waste collection regime to add to and change the waste streams being collected; this will allow us to reflect the changing needs of the commodities markets and shifts in public perceptions around the waste-streams they generate in their homes."

Workers and the Unite union have criticised the council for attacking workers' pay and conditions without proper consultation, which is a contrast to part of the document to be presented to councillors tomorrow which says that a clear part of the council's ambition is "the continued engagement with our front-line staff".

The document says it is vital that staff are "informed, motivated and engaged to deliver the changes to our collection regime that are necessary to achieve our goal of increased recycling."

Following the news of workers disappointment, which included group meetings of staff at the council depot, the council has accused some members of Unite of spreading misinformation.

One of the key planks of the council's strategy is switching the collection of some of the local bins from weekly to alternate weekly collections – allowing the council more time to manage the waste it collects effectively and forcing residents to be more astute in their disposal of waste. The council says this will be a good way to drive up recycling rates.

And another part of the plan is to introduce a food waste only collection service by supplying households with new containers.

They believe that will also guide householders to being more prudent about food use, saying: "Enough is enough - cutting down on food waste. We are fully committed to reducing food waste, reducing our carbon footprint and also meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal to halve global food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030."

The full presentation to be put before councillors can be read here.