LEAVING wheelie bin lids open or putting rubbish out on the wrong day could bring a fine of up to £75 under measures by Oxford City Council.

The council will adopt a "softly, softly" approach to enforcing new recycling arrangements from October, but the authority has promised to start fining people after six months' grace.

A 'recycling revolution', as it has been dubbed, will see the majority of city homes given a wheelie bin for non-recyclable waste to be collected fortnightly and recycling boxes for cardboard, glass, plastic and green waste.

There will be collections for different recyclable rubbish on alternate weeks.

But this time next year those not recycling properly will be given fixed penalty notices in the same way as speeding motorists or illegally parked cars by binmen, street wardens and environmental health officers.

The idea behind the tough approach is to improve Oxford's recycling record from about 18 per cent to nearer 45 per cent within two years.

As a result, dumping black bin bags in the street, putting rubbish out on the wrong day or putting out extra rubbish will attract a fine.

City councillor John Tanner, executive member for the environment, said: "We will fine people. We will go softly, softly for six months and then slap on the fines. People will be penalised if they put their rubbish out on the wrong day, present a wheelie bin with its lid up or put out extra rubbish, all those things could attract a fine. I do want to emphasise we have got people's enthusiastic support, but if people want to mess up this recycling scheme, then we will be forced to bring in fines we are deliberately using a carrot and stick.

"The first thing we will do is explain to people how it should work, when they don't do it properly we will put a leaflet through their door and after Christmas we will get really serious and threaten people with action. And if they don't play the game, impose fines."

The city council has powers to issue £75 on-the-spot fines to those who drop litter, chewing gum and cigarette ends, or who allow their dogs to foul in public parks and this week the Town Hall announced it was recruiting two environmental enforcement officers to co-ordinate the issuing of fines for these offences.

Last week, a 24-hour strike by public sector workers meant rubbish in torn black bags in places like Jericho, Blackbird Leys and Littlemore was left uncollected on the streets, an offence that would constitute a fine in a year's time.

Former Oxford Lord Mayor Pat Stannard, chairman of the Leys Residents' Association, said: "This has the scope for practical jokes and pranks and could get people's backs up."

Liberal Democrat city councillor Alan Armitage added: "This will lead to chaos."