That's the view and vision of councillors as they unanimously agreed to push through radical plans for a three-bin fortnightly bin collection system.

As we reported last week, the plans include three bins - one for food and kitchen waste; another for plastic, glass and cardboard; and the final one for all other residual waste - to be collected over a two week overlap.

However, unlike other councils, Rugby Borough Council said it is willing to collect food waste every week if residents are worried about hygiene problems.

Officials hope 50 per cent of waste will be recycled under the new proposals, making it one of the best performers in the country.

On Tuesday night at a full council meeting, Cllr. Heather Timms, Cabinet member for the Environment, described the decision as a 'defining moment' in the council's history.

She added: "I am privileged to be setting before you this exciting and innovative scheme."

Council Leader, Cllr. Craig Humphrey added: "We cannot pass on the buck to future generations for landfill.

"We have consulted more widely on this than any other service in the council's history and the figures that we got back show that there is an appetite for change.

"We have consulted, we have listened and now it is the time to act."
The scheme was backed by Rugby's Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, although the Lib Dems asked for amendments to be included about the size and sourcing of the bins due to the recent rise in fuel prices.
The amendments were rejected.

The collections will not be rolled out until April next year as talks continue into the possibility of bringing a Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) centre near Rugby for all the waste to be recycled in.

Councillors said they will use the time to communicate with Rugby residents about the scheme and help educate people to recycle more.