A MOVE to merge bin collections across Worcestershire could be back on the table - with council chiefs trying to see if Government cash can be secured to research the possible savings.

Your Worcester News can reveal how Worcestershire County Council is considering doing a massive "audit" of the refuse pick-ups to see what the implications would be for having one massive collection and disposal service which could also include neighbouring Herefordshire.

It follows months of deliberations over what to do with the hefty costs of dealing with household waste, which has now hit £57 million across Worcestershire and Herefordshire combined.

A new report on the costs, which is being looked at by County Hall's Conservative cabinet on Thursday, says the bill "is increasing".

Last year a group of politicians from Worcestershire's district authorities held talks over a possible merger, but fears were expressed about councils not wanting to lose control over what is considered one of their key services.

But the Tory leadership at the county council is now going to ask officers to explore if any outside funding can be secured to research what savings could be achieved under a deal, focusing on minimising waste and promoting recycling.

There is a belief that if evidence can be found of hefty possible savings, it might prompt a change of attitude.

The news follows several twists and turns in the waste collection and disposal saga, which included a move by Worcester City Council back in January to write to authorities in north Gloucestershire, Telford, Hereford and Warwickshire to see if there is any appetite in a deal.  

On top of that, Malvern and Wychavon are keen to do something between the south Worcestershire councils, but no progress has been made in recent months.

The district councils collect the waste while the county council disposes of it.

The new county council report reveals how a "joint waste authority" could be an option if the financial details surrounding it could be established.

It says: "The creation of a joint waste authority would enable a more unified waste minimisation and recycling campaign, and would result in potential savings.

"But these are likely to vary (between each council) and a robust business case would be needed to assess exactly what those savings might be."

It says"political champions" would need to be found across Worcestershire for it to work, saying there would "only be a desire" to strike a deal across both counties "if significant savings could be guaranteed" for every single council.

The report, which asks officers to search for outside funding for a huge bins audit, cites the example of Somerset, where a refuse collections merger is now saving taxpayers £1.7 million a year.

The cabinet meeting on Thursday gets underway from 10am.