More towns and in villages in the south of Monmouthshire will have their refuse collected fortnightly this month.

Leaflets are being delivered to Monmouth, Raglan, Usk, Mitchel Troy, Dingestow, Goytre, Monkswood and surrounding areas informing them of the change.

From next Monday (14th March), leaflets will go out to residents in Llanishen, The Narth, Whitebrook, Trellech, Tregare, Penrhos, Llantilio Crosenny, Whitecastle, Rockfield, St Maughans, Cross Ash, Skenfrith, Llanddewi Rhydderch, Llanvapley, Gwehelog, Llandenny, Gwernesney and surrounding areas.

This only refers to residual waste and all collections of recycling (red and purple bag) and food and garden waste will continue to take place every week.

More information about the changes is available at roadshows in Agincourt Square next Wednesday (16th March), Raglan Police Station next Thursday (17th March), Maryport St car park in Usk next Friday (18th March) and on the Old Monnow Bridge on Saturday 19th March.

Residents can also find out more details on the council website at http://ow.ly/4bQlS">http://ow.ly/4bQlS

Dave Harris, Monmouthshire County Council's head of waste, said: "We'll help everyone get used to the changes as much as possible.

"We are all recycling more and our residents helped us to beat the 40 per cent recycling target for 2009/10.Our next recycling target is 52 per cent by March 2013.

"We are creating less waste to go to landfill and now we only need to collect rubbish that isn't recyclable on a fortnightly basis.

"Nappies and incontinence pads will continue to be collected weekly so the refuse bags contain only dry items like plastic bags and packaging and bags won't smell.

"We have to increase our recycling rate and reduce the amount of waste that we send to landfill.

"If we don't continue to improve then the authority will be fined and so we are working hard with our residents to get recycling as much as possible. 

"Any money we save on collecting waste can be diverted to our recycling collections which increase as people recycle more."

Once this has been done the council estimates that 68 per cent of households in Monmouthshire will have fortnightly refuse collections.