WASTE bosses are preparing for a huge roll out of new recycling bins across the city.

Oxford City Council launches its new recycling scheme in October and is set to deliver the new, larger, blue bins free of charge to 41,000 households next month.

But one couple is fuming after they were refused a £20 refund by Oxford City Council.

Like many others, Sue and Dave Nicholls paid for a larger 240-litre blue bin to help recycle rubbish at their Littlemore flat.

And they paid the Town Hall £20 for the privilege.

So, when Mrs Nicholls found out the council was planning to offer a free 240-litre bin to all residents, she called the Town Hall to ask for her money back.

But she was told by council waste staff that no refund was on offer – although she could keep both bins if she wanted.

She said: “I can have two if I want, but there’s only me and my husband here.

“That would be 480 litres of recycling coming out of a two-bedroom flat fortnightly. I would rather have a refund.”

Mrs Nicholls, who lives with her husband, in Hillsborough Close, Littlemore, added: “Like anyone else, I pay my taxes.

“Why should we pay for a bin when everyone is getting them for free?”

City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We are pleased that people wanted to recycle more and lead the way by purchasing blue bins.

“If they would like an additional blue bin then we can provide them one free of charge.

She added: “Many of these people have had the benefit of the blue bins for several years and we are delighted that they have been able to recycle so much and contribute to our recycling rate for Oxford.”

The new waste scheme, costing £600,000, will allow nearly all recycling to be placed in one container.

The council said the new system would save £1m a year, reducing its waste collection bill from £3.5m to £2.5m.

Support vehicles and crews will be reduced, with 20 fewer workers needed – although no redundancies are planned as jobs will go when staff retire or leave.

For the past two years the city’s recycling rate has remained static at 38 per cent, and waste managers hope the changes will help the council reach its 40 per cent target.

Weekly food waste recycling collections were introduced in the city in June.