ULVERSTON residents who are desperate to recycle plastic and cardboard have called on local authority chiefs to take action.

South Lakeland District Council launched a trial kerbside collection scheme in Kendal in 2012 with the promise it would be rolled out if successful. 

But three years on, residents of many towns in the borough are still waiting - and have branded the delay as unacceptable.

Homeowners in Union Close and Union Lane are among those calling for change.

Suzanne Higgins said: "I can't understand what the delay is.

"We will soon have to pay to 5p for carrier bags in supermarkets which I support. The government is clearly trying to tackle the issue of recycling, yet our local council is still behind the times.

"If you have a car you can recycle at the local tip or supermarket. But for those who don't there is no option."

Fellow resident Sarah McNicol, said: "I don't recycle my cardboard and plastic as it means finding the time to take it all to the tip. 

"However if these were to be collected, along with glass and tins, I would happily recycle."

Council bosses say they are in the process of changing collection days for refuse as part of a drive to increase efficiency and lower fuel costs. 

Collection day changes will be completed in two phases. The first started this week in areas served by the Kendal depot, with the second phase - the Ulverston depot area - starting in November. 

Kerbside collection of plastic and cardboard will then be rolled out, with Arnside, Kirkby Lonsdale and Milnthorpe, starting in November. 

The remainder of the borough, including Ulverston and surrounding villages, would start in 2016, will all areas of the district catered for by the end of the year. 

Councillor Sue Sanderson, SLDC’s portfolio holder for Environment and People, said: "Once the day changes are in place we will start to look at rolling out the plastic and cardboard kerbside recycling to the rest of the district, and we will write to everyone telling them exactly when that will happen and also provide them with a new blue bag for storing their plastic and cans recycling."

The roll-out of plastic and cardboard collections is part of a three-year plan to increase recycling rates and SLDC plans to recycle 50 per cent of waste collected in the district. The figure stands at 43 per cent.

Said Union Lane resident, Clare Clarke: "If kerbside recycling is readily available, to people, they are far more likely to recycle than if they have to make a special journey. And that would cut household waste dramatically."