RESIDENTS across the borough have received leaflets explaining Thurrock Council's new waste bin collections strategy.

It details the switch to fortnightly green (or black) general waste bin collections and how that will integrate into the alternate weekly collection of blue recycling bins.

And residents are given details of what is going to happen to brown bin garden waste collections, which is switching to a paid service costing £80 a year for one bin and £50 for a second.

The changes will begin in the week beginning Monday, 8 April.

The leaflet asks residents to make sure they are putting the right waste in the right bin and provides a link to the website where there is more information on the correct bin to dispose of waste in. You can also click on it here: thurrock.gov.uk/bins

The webpage explains that "garden waste soil or mud" should not be disposed of in the green or grey refuse bin and that the crews will not "collect bins or bags with the wrong types of rubbish in them".

If it is clear a resident is using their general waste bin (or any other bin not provided for garden waste) to dispose of their garden waste, their bin will not be collected.

A council spokesperson said: "We must be strict where we see this happening to meet requirements of our general waste disposal contract and to make sure we do not incur any penalties that could be costly to the council.

"There is more information for those who choose not to subscribe about the correct way to dispose of garden waste in both the leaflet and on our website: thurrock.gov.uk/gardenbins