MID Devon District Council has asked for patience as they go about reorganising the region's recycling and rubbish collection rounds, in a bid to make them more efficient and reduce costs.

All Mid Devon households will soon be receiving a new collection calendar as the council looks to make the service 'simple and easier.'

Waste and Transport Manager Simon Newcombe said “We've done lots of preparation to make the transition to the new rounds as smooth as possible. You can check your new collection dates online at www.middevon.gov.uk/newrounds - and you'll soon be getting your new calendar.

“This will run for an 18-month period until the end of September 2015, so please make sure you keep hold of it.

“Some households will find that, as we make the transition from the old rounds to the new rounds, you will get two collections of the same materials on two consecutive weeks, although we've tried to reduce the amount of households affected.

“Apart from a very small number of households which are joining the alternate weekly scheme and will now get a brown bin collection of garden waste, food waste and cardboard, there are no other changes to the materials we are collecting.

“With such a big change there are bound to be a few teething problems, so please do bear with us.”

Apart from assisted collections, the council will no longer travel down the majority of private roads or tracks to pick up rubbish or recycling.

“In this case collections will be from the adopted road kerbside at the junction of the private road or track.

“All households affected are receiving a letter explaining the changes.”