PENDLE'S policy on bin bags looks set to get the sack in a bid to reduce costs and encourage householders to cut the amount of rubbish they throw out.

Councillors are being asked to agree to throw out the old system of providing the same amount of bin bags as the number of bags left for collection by dustbin men and instead limiting households to two sacks each.

A report to a special meeting of Pendle Council's services committee on Wednesday says providing bin bags is a major cost in the borough's refuse collection budget.

More than six million bags are handed out each year at a cost of £180,000.

By providing two bags maximum per house the number of bags could be cut by 1,275,000 a year with an annual saving of £38,250. By introducing the new rules from October 2 the council would save £18,750 alone this financial year.

The two bags rule would also encourage people to think more about cutting the amount of rubbish they throw out, the council's services director John Kirk said.

The committee is recommended to agree the new system should operate from October 2 to the end of March when it will be reviewed.