THE growing trend to adopt fortnightly rubbish collections is opposed by more than 94% of householders, says a poll.
Fortnightly collections of general refuse are so far used by around 140 councils to encourage recycling, with recyclable items such as glass, newspaper and cans being collected on alternate weeks.
But the change has sparked opposition from householders who believe it encourages vermin.
Kirklees Council has run a pilot scheme in the Almondbury and Lepton areas and says it was a success.
It has now confirmed plans to introduce the scheme throughout the district.
The first new areas will have their collections changed in the autumn, with the rest following throughout next year and 2009.
There have been concerns about the moves in many towns.
In Dartford, Kent, council leaders put the issue to a public vote.
Out of 10,379 responses, 94.5% favoured weekly collection over a fortnightly service.
And 89.2% of householders said they still needed to be reassured that there were no health risks associated with alternate weekly collections.
Council leaders said the results highlighted an underlying willingness of people to recycle, with 51.7% saying their household could do more to recycle.
The Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee said this month that alternate weekly collections should not be introduced everywhere.
The cross-party committee said they were not appropriate for some areas, particularly highly urban parts characterised by much-shared accommodation.
It also acknowledged there was no clear evidence of adverse public health effects, but insisted there should be detailed research into anecdotal claims about increased vermin.
