HOUSEHOLDERS in Eastleigh who produce too much domestic waste will soon have the excess left on their doorsteps.

In a new policy, the council will only collect waste put inside grey refuse bins - with the lids shut.

Many families currently put out extra sacks of rubbish. But when the new rules come into force, probably at the end of October, anything not inside bins will be left behind.

Households that seem to be struggling to comply will be visited by council officers and given advice on recycling.

It will be the biggest change since the council became one of the first to introduce fortnightly collections of green bins containing recyclable materials and grey bins containing general domestic waste.

The new policy only applies to grey bin waste.

The council will go on collecting as much recycable material as people put out.

Executive councillor for the environment Louise Bloom told Cabinet colleagues: "We do expect some reaction", but added that the council had been looking at ways of increasing its household recycling rates.

If householders can show they are doing all they can to recycle, the council will consider an upgrade to a larger bin.