A pilot scheme in April last year saw household waste increase by 21%

All residents will be required to place glass bottles, jars, tins, cans, papers and magazines in their recycling box and not in their refuse box.

Those who persistently fail to recycle will receive warnings and visits from council officers.

A pilot scheme in April saw household recycling increase by 21%.

The first phase of compulsory recycling took place in Totteridge, East Barnet, Oakleigh and Brunswick Park wards.

Barnet's Cabinet Member for Environment Cllr Matthew Offord says: "Barnet is leading the way in new approaches to recycling. The initial phase of our compulsory scheme has been an out and out success and we expect the borough-wide scheme to follow suit.

"Everyone accepts that landfill and incineration is not sustainable and we must recycle more of our household waste."

About 21% of household waste is currently recycled in Barnet but the borough's target for 2005/6 is 30%.

"The council picks up your box from outside your house and it really doesn't take much effort to separate out your glass, cans and paper."