A scheme aimed at getting Oxford in to a culture of recycling has been branded confusing and potentially very costly.

The city council's so-called 'recycling revolution' got off to a bumpy start when its finer details were agreed yesterday, after it was claimed the method of collecting green waste and cardboard would put people off participating.

After much wrangling and a change of administration at the Town Hall - Oxford's bid to boost the recycling of household waste from just 19 per cent per year to an ambitious 45 per cent per year has begun.

Arguments continue to rumble on over how the project will work on the ground.

Liberal Democrat city councillor Jean Fooks, the executive member for a cleaner city whose job it is to implement the scheme, has been criticised for the way green waste and cardboard will be collected.

From September green waste and cardboard in parts of the city not already involved in a pilot recycling scheme - roughly 75 per cent of households - are to be collected together in one sack.

But in November, when every property is given a wheelie bin in which to put non-recyclable household waste, cardboard is to be collected separately - in a blue box.

Green city councillor Sid Phelps, chairman of the environment scrutiny committee, said: "The environment scrutiny committee agreed with officers there would be little point allowing cardboard to be included with green waste.

"To withdraw it in the next few months would lead to confusion - it's a shame the portfolio holder chose to ignore advice."

Meanwhile, confusion surrounds how environmental officers will deal with lost or stolen recycling boxes.

It was thought that each property would be given four free recycling boxes (two blue and two green) - and those wanting extra boxes would be charged £5.

Now, officers have been told to "exercise discretion" in fielding requests for additional boxes after it was said charging for them would penalise those wanting to recycle more.

However, one senior environmental officer told the Oxford Mail it would be practically impossible to distinguish between someone who had their boxes stolen and someone who wanted one for household storage.

Oxford's recycling scheme is planned to run on a fortnightly basis.

On week one, crews will collect paper and glass from boxes and non-recyclable waste - and on other weeks, plastics, cans and textiles from blue boxes or bins, in addition to garden waste.

Mrs Fooks said: "I do not think people will find this difficult.

"Given that we are changing the whole scheme I don't think it's confusing - people will cope."

Labour city councillor Dan Paskins, a non-portfolio executive committee member, added: "Charging for extra recycling boxes - I am curious what sort of message that sends out, it strikes me as entirely the wrong way to go about this. We have one scheme in September - and it all changes again two months later."