People in Elmbridge will have to recycle more if they don't want to have their rubbish collections cut in future.

Alternative weekly collections (AWC) had been proposed by Elmbridge Council as a way of encouraging more people to recycle by cutting the number of black bin rubbbish collections.

But the idea was put on hold last week because it has proved unpopular with residents, many of whom have written to the Guardian.

The Conservative-led administration decided against AWC at its cabinet meeting last Wednesday (November 22).

But it recommended most of the findings of the AWC working party and said it may return to the idea next year.

Council leader, Roy Taylor, said: "We have recommended that the council sets in motion most of the measures suggested such as increased composting and recycling.

"However it is not necessary to implement AWC right now.

"We would prefer to monitor the progress of other measures to see the degree of improvement brought to recycling and composting targets.

"We shall also endeavour to keep up to date with waste collection developments."

The current level of recycling and composting in Elmbridge is 25 per cent.

Under the Surrey Joint Municipal Waste Strategy, Elmbridge should be achieving 50 per cent recycling by 2015.

Mr Taylor said AWC may have to be reconsidered, if recycling did not meet the standards of Surrey Joint Waste Strategy.

He added: "We are acutely aware of problems with implementing AWC and large numbers of residents are not in favour.

"Accordingly, we will encourage people to minimise residual waste and increase recycling and compostable material and hope their co-operation will help us meet the targets to which we are tied."

Meanwhile people living in Elmbridge have strong views as to how waste could be minimized.

Resident Peggy Young said: "Place a skip outside all supermarkets for customers to leave any unwanted packaging."

Kathryn Lloyd, said: "The real alternative would be to offer more materials to be recycled, for example, yoghurt pots, food packaging, cling film, polystyrene and foil, the list is endless."

Another resident said: "Perhaps a solution would be to create a waste lorry which recycled on one side and had ordinary rubbish on the other."