Microchips are being placed in bins to monitor how much waste is being recycled by households in Norfolk.

Sensors on the bin lorries will then gather information about whether residents are collecting bottles, cans and waste paper to be re-used.

The project by South Norfolk District Council will be the first in the UK to measure how much each household in two villages throws away.

The pilot project will run for six months in the villages of Bracon Ash and Mulbarton to encourage people to recycle more.

Not 'big brother'

Each home is being given two wheelie bins - one for recycled waste and the other for ordinary rubbish.

The move is part of a drive to meet stringent new recycling targets being set by the government.

In South Norfolk, the council's recycling target is being raised from 13% to 20% of household waste.

Council spokesman Mark Allen said the project was more like a supermarket loyalty scheme than a "big brother" monitoring system.

He said: "If a household is not recycling enough we might send them a letter or a leaflet telling them how to use the scheme."