Oxford's residents have been told to recycle more after it was labelled among the worst in the South East.

The city council, together with West Oxfordshire District Council and Cherwell, are among eight local authorities in the region to have their targets increased for 2007/8 from 18 per cent to 20 per cent. But West Oxfordshire District Council, which currently has a recycling rate of 22 per cent, and Cherwell, which is recycling over 40 per cent, said they should not have been on the list.

To help councils meet the targets, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is proposing "targeted intervention and engagement" with the councils. This will include careful assessment of the problems faced, extra training and closer working with Defra.

City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: "The city council beat the 18 per cent target by one per cent between April 2005 and April 2006, achieving a 19 per cent recycling rates, so it is halfway to achieving the Government's new target already."

Liberal Democrat councillor John Goddard, who is expected to be announced as leader of the council at Thursday's Mayor-making ceremony, said the council would consult residents on a £2m waste collection scheme, including the provision of 240-litre wheelie bins.

Separate recycling boxes for paper, glass, plastic and garden waste, will also be provided to 52,000 homes.

Mr Goddard added: "We want to consult the public on how this can work so that we can double our recycling rate we want to be the best in the county.

"We will roll this out within a year from now but we don't want to rush the public into something they can't yet cope with."

Cathleen James, West Oxfordshire District Council's strategic director for environment, said: "Defra's figures seem a little out of date as our recycling rate is now exceeding 22 per cent, so we will be asking them to remove us from their list."

Ben Bradshaw, Local Environment Quality Minister, said the changes would help to narrow the gap between the best and worst authorities, while ensuring a more even level of service across the country.

The Government has also warned that council tax bills would increase unless the county dramatically im- proved recycling rates.