MORE than 2,000 people have signed a petition against Blaenau Gwent Council's new recycling policy with a protest planned next month.

'Trolibocs' - the council's new stacked trolley box recycling system - has caused outrage among residents after it was introduced earlier this month.

Residents have already hit out at the scheme, calling it 'ludicrous' and 'not practical' with the valley towns' narrow streets.

Now nearly 5,000 people have joined an online Facebook group with a protest planned outside the council's offices on November 20, at 10am.

More than 2,000 people have also signed a petition against the trolley boxes, which they call 'inconvenient, bulky and take up too much space'.

The petition, set up by Alison Powles, from Tredegar, said: "There has been no consideration to the residents of Blaenau Gwent and the local area.

"We as residents are paying for this service and feel very undermined and as though we are living in a dictatorship. There is nothing wrong with the current system."

One of the group organising the protest, who did not want to be named, said: "We want to say to them their idea is not going to work. We want them to come and face the people."

The leader of the council, councillor Hedley McCarthy, said the council is 'doing all that it can' to solve the problems and concerns it is receiving from members of the public.

Cllr McCarthy said: "We are in continuous contact with Welsh Government and various assembly members and ministers with regard to Blaenau Gwent ceasing to operate our old co-mingling system because it does not fit Welsh Government standards.

"The new scheme, which began this week, is supported by Welsh Government and fits the blueprint that it has outlined for recycling across Wales.

We are currently in contact with the minister in relation to the financial penalty imposed upon the authority for failing to meet the most recent recycling target.

“We are obviously concerned about the problems that some of our vulnerable residents are facing and we will continue to seek solutions for these people.

"Where the new recycling scheme and boxes are not appropriate we will discuss alternative arrangements in order that these people can continue to recycle, and we currently have people out in the community at the moment to address these issues.”

Blaenau Gwent AM, Alun Davies, said he has been contacted by a large number of concerned people.

He said: "I have been working with all those residents and have asked the council to try and address their concerns. I am hopeful that the council will listen to these issues and offer some real solutions.

"How we recycle and the method used is decided solely by each individual council. Blaenau Gwent has decided to implement the trolibloc system which works well for some but not all.

"We all know people who are vulnerable and genuinely worried about their inability to recycle using the boxes. I am sure those people will not be punished for problems beyond their control. I hope that the council will listen to what people are saying and will ensure that our recycling in Blaenau Gwent compares will other local authorities in Wales".