A WEEKLY glass collection service is to be introduced by Southend Council to boost recycling and avoid millions of pounds in fines.

The authority needs to drastically reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites because the Government intends to fine it for every ton over the set quota from 2009 onwards.

If Southend Council was to recycle at its current rate it would face a fine of £1.69million in 2009 and a fine of £3.87 million by 2012.

To tackle the problem, a weekly glass collection will be rolled out across the borough from July onwards.

A pilot scheme to try a collection for food waste only will be launched early next year in two or three areas.

Details of how rubbish and recycling collections will be organised and collected have not yet been agreed.

Ann Holland, councillor responsible for waste, said: "We will be fined £150 for every ton of rubbish over quota. We don't want to have to do that."

"The council will need to increase the amount of biodegradable waste it recycles from 22 per cent to 35 per cent."

Mrs Holland said: "We need to reduce biodegradable waste and food does make up a large proportion of that. We will have a trial first to see how it works.

"It does need people to take ownership of it. We need to see what the take up is.

"We don't need a trial for glass as people are used to recycling it anyway.

"We've increased the number of bottle banks, but not everyone - like elderly people - will be able to travel to them. A glass collection will also stop some car journeys, as people can have a long way to go to a bottle bank."

Susie Hawkins, vice-chairman of South Westcliff Community Group, said: "I think this is a very good idea, as long as they collect it in a proper container and not leave it in plastic bags. It will encourage more people to recycle."