ALTERNATE weekly collections of household waste in Kennet are to be introduced sooner than planned.

The district council is bringing forward the introduction to help it meet its recycling target.

Alternate collections will start in June 2006 and also starting earlier will be the expansion of the kerbside collection of mixed recyclable items, this will begin this October instead of next summer.

Kennet District Council has approved spending £285,000 on three side-loading refuse collection lorries needed to expand the service in October and the appointment of four more drivers and eight new loaders.

The £176,500 cost of employing the extra staff and running costs of the three new vehicles will be paid for with grants from Wiltshire County Council and Hills Waste.