Householders across Bradford could get another wheelie bin to encourage them to recycle more waste.

Bradford Council is planning to expand its refuse recycling service with the delivery of 50,000 wheelie bins to homes across the district.

The bins, which will be emptied each week, will be used to collect paper-only waste including magazines and junk mail, which represents 80 per cent of the rubbish processed in the district.

That will bring more householders in line with the 20,000 in parts of Bradford North, Shipley, Baildon, Bingley, Wibsey and Ilkley who already have two wheelie bins to enable them to recycle their waste.

And in two year's time about 100,000 households will be helping the environment by recycling rubbish.

The expansion follows a successful £825,000 award from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affair's Recycling Fund.

A newsletter sent out by the Council recently asked people for their views on eyesores, suggestions for improvements to the refuge service and their attitude to recycling.

More than 9,000 replies were received and more than 98 per cent of people were keen on recycling.

The Council recycles ten per cent of the district's waste but must reach the ambitious target of 25 per cent by 2005.

But the new bins mean it is highly likely to reach the goal and will be in line for more Government funding over the years to help recycle more and more different materials.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, pictured, executive member for the environment, said it would be the choice of each household whether they received a bin or not but feedback from the public had indicated many were keen on recycling more waste.

"This successful bid will enable the Council to offer a paper collection service to thousands more households in the district and reflects our commitment to a greener refuse service," she said.

"The success of existing recycling schemes in parts of the district and public feedback show there is a high demand for refuse recycling.

"Over the next few years, we will be looking to expand the collection and disposal service to include other forms of recycling materials."

Councillor Keith Thomson, chairman of the environment scrutiny committee, said: "The large amount of newspapers and magazines should bring the Council over the 25 per cent target and a very large number of people have said they want to use this method of getting rid of the rubbish. I think it is very encouraging and this is certainly a good news story."

He added that the good work would be reflected in the Council's ratings on the Audit Commission's reports on the performance of authorities across Britain.

If the executive committee approves the scheme tomorrow, the Council will write to residents offering them the choice of using recycling bins.

The new bins will start to be delivered over the next few months.