FAMILIES in Colchester are having their bin bags and recycling surveyed ahead of a door-stepping campaign aimed at reducing the rubbish dumped in landfill.

Kerbsides outside homes in Barnhall, the Hythe, Monkwick and Tiptree are being monitored to see what residents put out for collection, although council chiefs stress staff will not be sorting through people’s recycling or rubbish.

Then from next month, 30,000 households across the borough will be visited by staff from MEL Research, a company appointed by Colchester Council to raise awareness of recycling.

After the doorstepping campaign, which takes place between October 14 and November 21, the same homes will be monitored again in January and February to see if families are recycling more rubbish.