Bin collections in Enfield could be cut from once a week to once a fortnight under proposals put forward by the council.

The changes – which include charging a fee to collect garden waste – are set out in a council report containing seven options for overhauling the service that could save the council up to almost £3 million a year.

If the council approves the recommendations in the report, a consultation will be held with the public on whether to alter collections or stick with the status quo.

The current arrangements see refuse and dry recycling collected once a week, while mixed food and garden waste are collected once a fortnight.

But the council is under pressure to save £18 million by 2020 due to a funding squeeze by central government – and cutbacks to bin rounds could help to meet that target.

Enfield Council has already been forced to make £161 million-worth of savings since 2010.

The biggest savings – of up to £2.8 million – would come from shifting both refuse and dry recycling to fortnightly collections, with a separate food waste collection once a week and a £65 charge for garden waste.

Conservative leader Councillor Joanne Laban has criticised the proposals and called in the decision to the overview and scrutiny committee.

Cllr Laban said: “The council need to be better with the money they do have. This affects everyone, and we have lots of fly-tipping at the moment. They need to re-look at their priorities.

“There is a public health benefit to bin collections, and if streets are clean it is a nicer place to live – and that helps everyone.

“You get lots of people who put black bin liners full up and next to black bins. That is once a week – what on earth is it going to be like with fortnightly refuse collections?”

The Conservative leader also said that charging for green waste could lead to more illegal dumping.

Councillors will discuss the proposals at a meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee at Enfield Civic Centre on Tuesday, October 23, from 7.30pm.

The council would not comment at this stage due to the call-in to the committee.