DORSET is set to save millions of pounds and keep its record as one of the greenest counties with a new bin collection scheme.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council became the seventh council to approve the joint county-wide waste collection and disposal service.

There are currently 12 different collection systems across the country, standardising them will save Dorset councils around £2 million each year.

Councillor Ian Roebuck, borough council Environment and Sus-tainability spokesman, said: “We have invested a large amount of money into waste collection in this borough and it is a matter of pride for many residents.

“We are the borough which puts the least waste into a landfill across the whole country and are amongst a group of councils producing the least waster per head of population in England.”

The plans will save the borough up to £5,000 a year and were approved with a unanimous vote in a full council meeting.

It will also allow more people to recycle more at the kerbside than at present, including food, cardboard and plastic bottles.

“Disposing of waste is a rapidly increasing commitment and this joint partnership will provide a more cost effective service across the county,” said Coun Roebuck.

“The unified service will only be slightly different with a slight change in the way recycling is sorted but when it is fully operational it could amount to almost half a million pounds saving a year directly to the borough.

“We can use these savings to protect our front-line services and will also help keep down council tax bills.”

Speaking at the meeting Coun Paul Kimber said: “This plan is a leading initiative and it’s clear to me that recycling is very important to residents across the borough.

“We are one of the top brackets in the country on recycling so I welcome this. We are working in partnership with other counties and what we are doing is ground-breaking stuff.”

A communication and education campaign will take place for Weymouth and Portland residents before the scheme, which will be run by Dorset Waste Partnership, is rolled out.

Councillor Hilary Cox, chairman of the Dorset Waste Partnership joint committee, said: “This is a fantastic sign of how Dorset councils are working together to save money and provide better services for taxpayers.

“People will be able to recycle more at home and get the same high standard of service at the kerbside.”

The new service will be introduced in stages across the county this autumn with the main changes introduced elsewhere in Dorset first, and coming into operation in Weymouth and Portland in 2014/15.