Households across north Oxfordshire are a step closer to being able to recycle food waste.

District councillors have agreed to begin composting using food waste.

The move comes as Cherwell District Council attempt to hit the 50 per cent recycling mark. At the moment recycling across the district stands at 48 per cent.

Initially, there will be a pilot food waste collection scheme before it is rolled out across Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington.

But before any trial can take place specialist processing facilities need to be built in Oxfordshire. The county council plans to provide a site for the process — known as in-vessel composting — next year.

The district council's executive member for community, health and environment, George Reynolds, said: "Cherwell is committed to reducing the amount of food waste that is dumped in landfill. That's why we want to roll out food waste composting as soon as suitable in-vessel composting is available. "

Oxfordshire County Council will award a food and garden waste treatment contract and hopes to complete the process in the next few weeks.