Midcoast Waste Services (MWS) is a joint initiative between Greater Taree City Council, Gloucester Shire Council and Great Lakes Council to streamline waste services, enabling residents to share in the benefits of standardised services and to take advantage of the savings in having one contractor provide all services across the region.

Services commence next Monday and ? for those currently receiving a waste service ? will see a waste and recycling service for all households and a garden organics service for those living in townships, villages and rural-residential estates.

For most in Greater Taree this means an increase from two bins to three.

The new service includes:

* red lid ? collected weekly, this is for general household waste. The lid needs to be closed completely with nothing protruding for collection;

* yellow lid ? collected fortnightly, this if for recyclable items. Plastic and cardboard containers should be flattened, lids from bottles and containers should be removed and placed in the red-lidded bin;

* green lid ? collected fortnightly, this is for garden organics such as lawn clippings, leaves and prunings less than 15cm in diameter.

To assist in the changeover, Midcoast Waste Services has established a website at www.midcoastwaste.com.au

This site contains detailed information about each bin and the items that should be placed in each.

It also contains a frequently asked questions section that addresses many of the regular queries or concerns.

With the new service kicking off next week, most residents will find their collection day has remained unchanged from the previous service.

Anyone who is unsure can enter their address on the website and find their collection day.

With the alternating fortnightly recycling and organics services, each neighbourhood has been classified as either week A or B, which determines when these services will be collected.