A crackdown forcing Medway residents who do not sort their recycling to pick it back off the streets has been axed - just days after it was proposed.

Medway Council had suggested leaving bags behind if householders mixed paper or card with other materials such plastic.

But the council cabinet ditched the idea yesterday. Instead, bin men will collect the offending bags, but start an "ongoing dialogue" with each homeowner to explain the rules.

The move came after Cllr Vince Maple (Lab) warned some residents would not bother recycling at all.

Cabinet member for waste Cllr Phil Filmer (Con) said: "I can assure people there will be no waste left out on the streets."

Deputy leader Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con) said: "The measures are not meant to be, nor are they, punitive. We want residents to recycle more, there’s a clear environmental and financial benefit."

Recycling costs the council's contractor, Veolia, about a third of the cost of dealing with black sacks because of high landfill taxes.

the rules

householders can use four different receptacles, which can be obtained by calling 01634 333333.

blue caddie for paper and card.

white caddie and clear plastic bags for all other recycling (glass, metal, foil, plastic, aerosols).

brown bin for food and garden waste.

black sacks for all other waste.

But about £339,000 is spent every year sorting paper and card, which is meant to go in blue caddies, from other recyclable material, which goes in white caddies and clear sacks.

Council chiefs estimate a fifth of residents make no effort to distinguish between the two.

The move was due to be introduced in October, on the same day all collections go weekly for three years thanks to the council winning a £14m grant.

Cabinet members insisted that, not the apparent U-turn, was the good news of the day.

Cllr Jarrett said: "I believe ours was one of the largest awards in the whole country. When this is eventually rolled out later in the year it will be a great benefit to the residents of Medway."

However, the last-minute report detailing the change hinted some bags could still not be collected, if homeowners keep breaking the rules.

It said waste will not be abandoned on the streets "whilst dialogue is ongoing."