FAMILIES who struggle to manage with one of Bolton's new slimline grey bins will be allowed to continue use a larger bin — but only if they prove they are recycling as much waste as they can.

The controversial plan to bring reduce residents' grey waste bins from 240 litres to 140 litres is due to be rolled out within the next two years.

But Bolton Council chiefs say the plan — aimed at cutting the town's £20 million waste bill — is not a "one size fits all" approach and have vowed to help families.

Environment boss Cllr Nick Peel said: “We do accept that a standard service isn’t right for everyone.

“We know that there are people who do need extra capacity for different reasons and that principle will remain — but they have to be able to show that they are recycling to their maximum ability.

“The last thing we want to do is lose the good will of the majority of people who are avid recyclers.”

The council says it is targeting the 20 per cent of residents who do not recycle at all.

The new bins will cost £2 million but the scheme is expected to save the local authority £1.25 million every year in landfill costs.

It has also been confirmed that any larger grey bins that are removed will be recycled.

Cllr Peel added: "We have to be willing to engage with these people who do not recycle and help to educate them on recycling issues because at the moment they are letting down the majority of people that do recycle.

“The fact is that the less residual waste we collect, the less money the people of Bolton will pay in terms of tax, because we currently have to pay a big lump of landfill tax to the government.”

Figures collected by the council show that since 2012/13, Bolton’s recycling rate has increased by more than eight per cent.

And the amount of waste being put in grey bins by households has decreased by almost 100 kg per year — the weight of a baby elephant.

But the council thinks it can be doing much more and is aiming to get the recycling rate up from its current level of 38 per cent to around 45 per cent.

The environmental services department needs to find savings of between £5.3 and £6.3 million between 2015 and 2017.

The department carried out consultations on the slim bins proposals and said more than half of respondents were in favour of the plans. There are now plans for further consultations.

Cllr Peel said: “We are not rushing into this — we are going to look carefully at things and iron out any potential problems before they arise as well as looking at other authorities that have done it and learn from any mistakes that have been made.”

Father-of-two Greg Smith, aged 36, from Horwich, said: "I work in the waste industry so I recycle as much as possible but I would still struggle with a young family and a small bin collection every two weeks.

"Being a new father I welcome the chance to keep my larger bin — but without a change in the way we dispose of our household goods the problems will continue to pile higher.

"I would also like to see a change in our attitude to compost. The food and other organic waste we throw away can be put to good use — but I see much of this waste being thrown in the general rubbish.

"Maybe some money put into educating local communities on the impact of their waste and what they can do to help would be better than a sudden reduction in bin size."