OXFORD City Council has said smelly wheelie bins "would not be a problem" if people just recycled more.

Concerns about rotting rubbish have surfaced because refuse collections in the city now take place fortnightly instead of every week.

Having originally said it would not respond to concerns about smelly bins, the Town Hall's environmental health department now says it will "judge each case on its merits".

The news has come light after confusion was highlighted with the new arrangements.

On Friday, rats had bitten through maggot-infested bin bags left outside a sheltered housing complex in Old Marston because not enough wheelie bins had been delivered.

And in Wolvercote, city council operatives had to clear recyclable rubbish twice after some was found strewn across paths and pavements.

The city council has taken inspiration from neighbouring Cherwell, which manages to recycle over 40 per cent of its household waste.

But former Oxford Lord Mayor John Power said: "In extremely hot weather the fortnightly collection of household refuse will become a health hazard, there is no doubt about that. I have heard the facile comparisons to Cherwell and other councils.

"But we are not Cherwell with 103 villages and two small towns in which 90 per cent of the housing is detached or semi-detached.

"We are Oxford, with 28,000 university students, 8,000 language students with the accompanying high levels of multi-occupation."

General household waste is now placed in green wheelie bins, paper and glass is deposited in green recycling boxes and plastics, cans and cardboard is put in blue boxes. There are also green hessian sacks for garden waste.

City councillor Jean Fooks, executive member for a cleaner city and the woman responsible for introducing Oxford's recycling scheme, said: "Early signs are the new scheme has been well received by the vast majority of residents.

"We know from the 7,000 people who have been in touch to ask for smaller bins for non-recyclable waste or extra blue or green recycling boxes, that lots are looking at ways to recycle more.

"We will look into any concerns over collection rounds that are raised with us."

Shaun Hatton, Oxford City Council's street scenes manager said: "If residents are concerned about odours from domestic bins they should contact city works.

"If residents think it is a public health risk they can contact environmental health. Each case will be dealt with on its individual merit."

  • The city works department is on 01865 252900.