WHEN new Winchester mayor Cecily Sutton was told her first engagement was going to be rubbish she may not have believed it - but it was!

Mrs Sutton spent time sitting in a wheely bin to promote the city council's new collection scheme.

She said of her stint in the bin, albeit a clean, new one: "It can only get better.

"But I'm delighted to be helping to promote this scheme."

Starting this October the council is trialling a system with recyclable waste being collected one week and non-recyclable the next.

She was joined by Councillor Jim Wagner, council portfolio holder for environmental health, to drive home the message that people should reduce the waste they throw away.

Mrs Sutton said: "We can't go on as we are.

"Everyone has to wake up to the problem of waste, and recycling and composting must become the norm if this country is not to disappear under a mountain of rubbish as the landfill sites run out.

Under the new scheme, householders will be given bigger recycling bins if they need them and every home with a garden will be given a free re-useable garden waste sack.

The trial begins in October and covers Micheldever, Sutton Scotney, Wonston, South Wonston, part of Kings Worthy, Abbotts Barton, part of Harestock, Littleton, Crawley, Sparsholt, Hursley and the Southdown area of Shawford/Otterbourne.

Householders in the trial area will be consulted further this summer and the scheme will run for up to 18 months.

During the trial residents will be asked for their views and the council will decide whether to roll it out across the district.

WHAT do you think about the new rubbish collection system? Call Andrew Napier on 01962 854 355.