Plans for fortnightly refuse collections have been ditched by Winchester City Council.

A move to alternating collections-household waste one week, recyclables the next- was being seriously considered just weeks before the May 1st election when Lib-Dems lost six seats and only just held onto control of the council.

"The perception is that people are not psychologically ready for it at this stage and I would rather not get blamed for it," said James Wagner, cabinet member for health and wellbeing.

"If we can achieve a significant increase by using a gentler method and by approaching the problem in a different way, then we will do that."

The "gentler" approach could involve a wheelie-bin swap.

At present, householders get a large bin for normal rubbish and a smaller one for recyclables. The city council wants to change them around so the larger one would be used for collecting tins, paper, cardboard and plastics.

In addition, new kerbside collection schemes could be started for green garden waste and glass bottles.

It's part of a major shake-up aimed at boosting recycling rates. Waste chiefs admit they have a mountain to climb to reach environmental targets-by 2006, they must be recycling 40% of materials-more than double the current rate of 18%.

"We have to make changes to increase the recycling rate," said Mr Wagner.

"The current twin-bin system was introduced in with good faith but it is no longer sufficient because targets are different.

"We hope to keep the existing infrastructure and avoid the need to buy more bins. From now on, if anyone asks for a recycling bin we will give them a larger one.

"Waste collection is a well-run system and we don't want to do a service reduction but a service enhancement.

"For some families, a small bin may not be big enough for their ordinary waste and we may have to consider exchanging their bins so they have two large bins."

Mr Wagner added that councillors would be asked to approve the proposals at a future cabinet and that there would be some form of public consultation, followed by a pilot scheme next spring with the aim of rolling out the new system across the district in 2005/06.