THERE is a growing rebellion against East Hampshire District Council's plans to help it meet government targets for recycling.
Residents all over the district have been protesting after the council stopped collecting garden waste in the green wheeled bins on October 1.
Protesters say it is a "ludicrous" decision, unfair on the elderly and disadvantaged and it could bring serious environmental health problems.
Petersfield Age Concern has taken the unusual step of voicing its fears in an open letter to EHDC chairman Peter Rodgers.
Now councillors have organised a special meeting on Monday to discuss the proposals with objectors.
A meeting of the council cabinet was discussing proposals for the free collection of garden waste "for those who find it most difficult to pay" at a meeting which took place on Wednesday.
These proposals came as part of a package of measures drawn up in answer to public concerns.
Residents' objections on green waste will also have to be considered before East Hampshire District Council takes a final decision on December 18 about extending its pilot scheme for refuse and recycling right across the district.
Councillors have been urging householders to compost their garden waste or take it to the household waste recovery centres.
In addition, the district council has introduced a controversial charging system under which it will collect green waste, but at a price, and ironically in a brown sack.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, Teresa Jamieson, has slated the scheme, claiming it is "causing hardship".
Elsa Bulmer, chairman of Age Concern Petersfield, has described it is a "public relations disaster".
An angry Buriton resident described the scheme as "extortion for the elderly".
Their reaction has been reflected across the district with residents in Alton and Whitehill also voicing deep concerns.
Chairman of the Walldown Preservation Society at Whitehill, Adam Carew, condemned the decision as ludicrous, claiming that it would lead to garden rubbish dumping and fly-tipping. He said this would attract other litter dumping and lead to problems of environmental health.
He has asked East Hampshire District Council to reconsider its decision to ban garden waste from weekly refuse collections.
"Failure to do so is likely to have serious consequences for our natural surroundings and quality of life," he said.
Mrs Jamieson said this week: "Many residents, especially the elderly and those on low incomes, are finding it impossible to afford the purchase of 10 bags at £7.50 a time."
She said Liberal Democrats had fought the charge all along, knowing it would cause problems.
"We have demanded that the Conservatives review this charge as a matter of urgency and we expect it to be reduced for people on low incomes at the very least."
Liberal Democrats, she said, first introduced the home recycling service in East Hampshire several years ago.
"And a full service for the whole district is long overdue.
"Most people want to take part in helping the environment but a significant minority are being prevented due to this ridiculous charge.
"It rubs salt into the wound when we are told that the trial areas in Alton and Horndean are successful due to the green waste collection being free."
The matter has already been raised at a meeting of Age Concern Petersfield and members have made their views known to EHDC chairman Peter Rodgers.
In an open letter to him, Mrs Bulmer said the sacks were expensive and difficult to obtain, particularly for old people on a fixed pension.
She said elderly people without cars were angry because they felt the scheme was aimed especially at them and created "an unnecessary extra expense".
Filled sacks were very heavy for anyone to lift, she said, particularly so for the elderly.
Mrs Bulmer said Age Concern understood the need for recycling, "but the ways of the council in this matter have resulted in a public relations disaster among the elderly residents in the area."
Mick Ayling, of Buriton, said the garden waste collection system hit the elderly and financially disadvantage particularly hard as many had no cars and no spare money for composters.
Environment portfolio holder Patrick Burridge admitted there were issues to be resolved concerning garden waste.
He added, however: "Results from the trial areas have shown that the switch to the new system has been easy for most people and the system has significantly increased the level of recycling in the trial area.
"This is good news for the environment as it reduces the need for new landfill and incineration plants in the district and for the taxpayer because it will help to avoid punitive fines and landfill charges."
Deputy leader Sam James said: "The main objections so far are that the charge for collection is unfair on those who have limited means to pay and that the material collected is still going to landfill. We are taking action on both fronts."
Mr James said he felt it was important to continue to encourage residents to compost green waste at home rather than dump it.
It was by far the most environmentally friendly solution for garden waste.