WASTE collections in a North Yorkshire district are set to become a once-a-fortnight event.

Richmondshire is the only district in North Yorkshire still collecting rubbish once a week.

Council officers have proposed that collections every two weeks are introduced.

Research will now be carried out on bin sizes.

Special arrangements may be made for properties unable to accommodate a large wheelie bin.

Councillor Linda Curran said fortnightly collections would encourage people to recycle.

The move is part of the council's waste management strategy action plan, designed to help hit Government targets on household waste and recycling over the next 13 years.

Plans to extend a recycling scheme introduced in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale into Wensleydale have also been discussed.

The scheme provides residents with containers in which to collect recyclable waste and mini banks where they can deposit it.