If you’ve ever wanted to talk rubbish with the council, now is your chance.

A consultation on the borough’s new waste strategy comes to an end on March 28 but before then, the public can have their say on the council’s plans, which include encouraging more people to reduce their refuse and recycle it.

Three key targets have been set in the document; to reduce the carbon footprint of rubbish collection and treatment activities; recycle and compost 32 per cent of all

rubbish produced by householders by 2010/11 and divert rubbish from landfill sites.

Historically Tower Hamlets has sent most of the rubbish it produces to landfill sites.

The strategy says this is no longer “an acceptable method of disposal” for both environmental and financial reasons, with the government now levying a landfill tax which will make the borough’s system too costly by 2013.

Consultation leaflets and surveys have been sent out to homes and anyone not receiving a copy can pick one up from the Idea Stores.

All those received will be entered into a draw for �100 of high street vouchers.

There is an online questionnaire which can be completed instead, which can be viewed, along with the strategy at towerhamlets.gov.uk/consultation.