WEEKLY food waste collections will be maintained in the proposed shake up of refuse and recycling services across the district.

But residents are likely to see residual household rubbish, which includes items such as food packaging, being collected fortnightly.

Currently food and household waste are collected together every week.

The changes are being considered under a new joint contract between Dover District Council and Shepway District Council, which is expected to reap massive savings for both.

DDC council leader Paul Watkins pledged that residents will not lose their weekly food waste collection, even though food waste and household rubbish would have to be sorted into separate bags.

The changes are likely to be phased in over a nine month period from October next year.

Mr Watkins said: "The residual waste could go fortnightly. DDC under the new contract will maintain a weekly food waste collection. All the existing recycling facilities we intend to continue as at present, so that other than food waste, all the other waste collection and recycling is likely to be fortnightly.

"These are not concrete arrangements yet, we are in discussion with other local authorities to remove the cost of waste by coming to an agreed standard across the whole of Kent."

DDC's contract with refuse collectors Sita ends in October next year, while Shepway's deal with Veolia expires the month before.

Dover is expected to sign off on an agreed joint plan this September.

Thanet, Canterbury and the county council may join at a later stage, while Mr Watkins said talks are taking place at County Hall on how to slash waste disposal costs.

The Kent authorities are looking to make a host of savings and be more efficient in the coming years by sharing services including housing and waste and recycling.