CRITICS of a new recycling scheme have been slammed for "scaremongering" on the eve of Wyre Forest's "rubbish revolution".

Council leader Howard Martin has hit out at opposition members' "constant sniping" and issued a call for unity over what he sees as the district's biggest innovation in 20 years.

Health Concern's Mr Martin was seething after Fran Oborski, leader of the Liberal group, predicted the delivery of brand new recycling boxes this month would coincide with many residents' holidays - and act as an advertisement for burglars.

"If the council dumps the boxes outside your home when there is no-one there to take them in, it might as well erect a dirty great sign outside your house at the same time proclaiming, 'gone away on holiday so please, please burgle,'" Mrs Oborski raged.

Councillor Keith Robertson, who is responsible for commercial services, hit out at the "blatant scaremongering", explaining: "This had already been addressed by officers. We had already decided to coincide the delivery of the new boxes with the households' regular wheelie bin collection day.

"If wheelie bins are not presented on this day we will assume residents are on holiday and will deliver a letter asking them to contact us to arrange alternative delivery or collection of their boxes at another convenient time."

The district needs to up its current recycling rate of eight per cent of household waste to 25 per cent to meet Government targets, and a scheme to cut wheelie bin collections to fortnightly - alongside weekly recycling box collections - is being phased in.

Mr Martin said: "I would urge all opposition councillors to check their facts before issuing any more criticisms.

"What we all need to be doing is working together and making this work. The negative approach of certain councillors is symptomatic of what has held Wyre Forest back in recent years."

Mr Robertson urged people to use the district's 16 recycling banks alongside the new "kerbside" scheme.

"Did you know you can put aerosols and foil into the can banks and glass jars into the bottle banks?

"It is also important to remember that the charity shops may like to re-use some items such as clothes, bric-a-brac and furniture."

More information about the banks can be obtained from www.recycle-more.co.uk or by calling 01562 732928.

Meanwhile, permission has been granted for a bulk storage facility for recyclable waste. Two storage bays will be built at Hoobrook industrial estate in Kidderminster to receive paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, cans and textiles before the material is sent to recycling companies for reuse.

Worcestershire County Council's planning and regulatory committee - which deals with strategic or environmental developments - approved the facility after assuring the district council there would be no burning on the site.