The final phase of Torfaen's Twin Bin scheme has been delayed and is now scheduled for rollout to thousands more homes early next year.
Torfaen Council is to add around 7,000 more residents to the scheme where recycling is collected every week and garden and food waste and non-recyclable rubbish are collected on alternate weeks.
No final date has been set for the latest rollout, which will cover Blaenavon, Abersychan, Pontnewynydd and Snatchwood, but is expected to happen early next year.
The local authority had planned to add the homes to the scheme in September but it was postponed because of a national problem with the supply of wheelie bins.
Christina Harrhy, the Council's Head of Technical Services and Performance, said: "We had to postpone the start of the scheme for reasons that were beyond our control. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
After the rollout, more than 38,000 homes will be on the scheme which already covers areas like, Ponthir, Sebastopol, Croesyceiliog, Upper Cwmbran and Fairwater.
Residents in Trevethin, Penygarn, St Cadocs, Wainfelin, Brynwern, New Inn, Pontypool and Cwmynyscoy were added to the scheme in February this year.
The Council hit a 42 per cent recycling rate this year making it the best recycling authority in South Wales.
Councillor John Cunningham, Executive Member for Operational Services, said: "Thanks to residents in Torfaen, the Twin Bin Scheme has already proved a big success. We are confident that by adding more residents to the scheme our recycling rates will continue to improve.
"The Twin Bin scheme is the best way to get more people recycling."
Flats and housing with communal rubbish collections in the new areas will be the only properties not added to the scheme, but the Council will be looking at reassessing the needs of these particular properties over the next few months.
Residents beginning the Twin Bin scheme will receive information letters, which will include a start date, early next year and a booklet giving more details will then be delivered together with new green bins for kitchen and garden waste, kitchen caddies and black boxes for recycling.
Anyone who has a legitimate reason for thinking they will not adapt to the scheme can phone 01495 766608.
For more information visit the Rubbish, waste and recycling page|