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There are fears that a waste collection project which it's claimed would keep council tax bills down could mean the loss of jobs as fewer people will be needed to run the service.

By having a single contractor handling rubbish collections for more than 200,000 residents bosses hope to reduce costs and to increase recycling rates in East Kent

The Joint Services Waste Project involves Dover, Shepway, Canterbury and Thanet Councils working with Kent County Council to introduce common collection arrangements for waste and recycling in all four districts over the next four years – starting in Dover District and Shepway in October 2010.

The aim is to provide improved services at a lower cost and increase recycling rates.

The project predicts savings of up to £1.5 million across the four districts and the County Council each year from 2013, with the recycling rate in East Kent predicted to reach or exceed an average of 48%.

The joint waste project was given the green light on Wednesday (25 November) and the proposals will now go to each Council for formal approval.

Proposals include providing weekly collections of food waste, with fortnightly collections of recyclables and household waste, and include the use of wheeled bins.