Dudley Council wheelie bin bill of £2.5m

They will buy 125,000 bins which will replace the black plastic bags currently used by households.

There are also plans to roll out a plastic and cardboard recycling service to more homes across the borough.

In 2010, the council introduced a three-bag limit on the number of bags collected from each property.

The wheelie bin plan will save the council the £250,000 currently spent on black sacks each year.

The council's cabinet member for environment, Tracy Wood, said that introducing wheelie bins would improve the service.

"Providing a wheelie bin service will enable us to make more efficient collections while reducing the risk of bags splitting or being ripped open by animals.

"The new bins will be financed through savings from the sack service and will be complemented by improvements to our kerbside collection, which will add plastic and cardboard to the glass, cans and paper we already collect for recycling.

"We know our residents value the waste and recycling service, which scored very highly in the Big Question consultation, and that's why we strive to deliver the very best service that we can."

Council leader David Sparks added: "Our budget for the next three years outlines expansions of these services to bring plastic and card recycling to all borough households and to also introduce wheelie bins for weekly refuse collections."

In November the council was awarded £1.8million of government funding so that it could continue weekly bin collections and increase recycling services across the borough.

It was one of 85 authorities around the country which have had their application for the cash approved by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Bosses plan to use the money on extra vehicles, boxes, bags and staff for the plastic bottle and cardboard recycling service.