Plans to change the way rubbish is collected from 54,000 homes in south Oxfordshire to boost recycling were given the go-ahead last night.

Each household will be issued with two wheelie bins -- a grey one for ordinary waste and a green one for items which can be recycled.

Both bins will be emptied weekly and on the same day.

The new scheme will be phased in over the next 18 months at an estimated cost of £1.23m.

The council had orginally proposed a fortnightly collection but this was revised before last night's meeting in response to public concerns about fortnightly collections leading to problems with vermin and flies.

Council leader Jan Morgan said that for more than 90 per cent of residents the new collection system would pose no practical difficulties.

She added: "We have gone a long way to meet the concerns of residents."