The first areas of Oxford to participate in the city's 'recycling revolution' have been announced.

Residents living in roughly 14,000 homes in Carfax, Holywell, Jericho, Botley Road, Hinksey Park, Summertown, Wolvercote and parts of Marston, Headington and Quarry will lead the way in recycling in six weeks' time.

In November, householders in those districts will receive recycling boxes and, for any non-recyclable waste, a wheelie bin.

Those who want to opt out of having a wheelie bin will be given special sacks in which to place household waste.

The historic arrangement - the first time wheelie bins have been seen on the city's streets - is seen as Oxford City Council's best hope yet of boosting the city's currently modest recycling rates to 40 per cent within two years.

By early November, residents in the pilot areas will receive a leaflet explaining how the fortnightly scheme works.

And shortly afterwards, wheelie bins - or sacks - and boxes will be delivered with more details and a calendar showing collection days.

City councillor Jean Fooks, executive member for a cleaner city, said: "This is another significant step in our efforts to make Oxford one of the leading recycling cities in the country.

"The area that will be leading the way is one where many people have already demonstrated their enthusiasm for recycling - by taking part in the pilot garden waste and cardboard collection service."

The garden waste and cardboard recycling service will be extended across the city in the next few weeks.

Heavy duty reusable bags will be delivered to thousands of homes.

Residents will be able to use them for green waste and cardboard, which will be collected every fortnight and turned into compost.

New-style collection rounds will work on a fortnightly cycle - garden waste and wheelie bins emptied one week, and green boxes (waste paper and glass) and blue boxes (plastics, cans and textiles) emptied the next.

All properties are scheduled to be participating in this arrangement by spring 2007.