The thousands of Camden homes that will have their rubbish bins emptied just once every two weeks from April have been revealed this afternoon.

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The borough’s north and west are most affected by the plan, which is being introduced to drive up recycling rates and save £5million a year.

Under the scheme, most of Frognal and Fitzjohns, Swiss Cottage, West Hampstead, Belsize, Gospel Oak, Hampstead Town, Highgate and Kilburn will have rubbish bins collected once a fortnight.

Many wards in the south of Camden – including Bloomsbury, Regent’s Park, King’s Cross, St Pancras and Somers Town and Holborn and Covent Garden – will continue to be covered by weekly collections.

Cllr Merik Apak, cabinet member for sustainability and environment, said the changes were being made because more needed to be done boost recycling.

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“Over 85 per cent of an average rubbish bin in Camden contains recyclable materials, but Camden residents currently only recycle 25pc on average.”

Cllr Apak reassured residents that weekly collection of recycling and food waste will continue for all homes across the borough.

He added: “It costs the council far less to process recyclable materials, so by boosting recycling rates the council is not only helping the environment, but saving money. As our grants from central government continue to reduce it is vital that we make such savings.”

As part of the same plan, garden waste will now be collected every Saturday as a paid-for, opt-in service.

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Residents who subscribe to the service will pay £60 for 9 months or £75 for a year – but there is also the option of heading to centres at Hornsey Street or Regis Road to drop off garden waste for free.

Conservative Cllr Leila Roy, who represents Belsize, said it was a “Herculean task” to get the information, which she says is still incomplete.

“I’m disappointed about the lack of transparency in communicating with the residents and ward councillors about such a sensitive issue,” she said.

“This plan was made without using the local knowledge of residents or local councillors who could have explained why it is not suitable for some streets.”

Ham & High: Belsize Picture: Camden CouncilBelsize Picture: Camden Council (Image: Archant)

She added that some of her residents’ addresses are missing from the plans.

Reacting to the news, Rupert Terry, the chairman of Redington Frognal Association, said the scheme appears to not have been well thought-out.

“Why just pick certain areas? It makes no sense,” he said, adding the move will not improve the Redington Frognal Conservation Area.

“Lots of properties here are conversions into flats – there isn’t space for wheelie bins.”

He added: “This will cause more fly-tipping, more dumping and more bonfires.”

Mr Terry, who lives in Ferncroft Avenue and is pro-recycling, said the wards affected are the ones usually considered wealthier.

“But this area, if it is more affluent, is paying more council tax, is more likely to use private hospitals and their own security force.

“Rubbish collection was one of the things they were actually getting.”

To see if your street is affected, check this post code checker or look through the maps.

On the maps, streets coloured green will now have fortnightly collections.