RECYCLING is already on the increase following the roll-out of smaller bins across Newport last month, early figures show.

The Labour-led city council has issued around 20,000 smaller 120 litre wheelie bins to households since April 1, with the remainder planned to be sent out by the end of June.

The replacement of 180 litre size bins is being made as the authority bids to increase its recycling rate to meet new Welsh Government targets.

As part of the changes warnings can also be issued to residents who place recyclable materials in their general waste, with potential fines a last resort.

At a meeting on Tuesday, council leader, Cllr Debbie Wilcox said that while it is still early days initial figures are "extremely encouraging."

Rubbish volumes have reduced by about 30 per cent, while recycling and food waste have increased by 25 per cent since April 1.

Four thousand new requests for extra recycling containers have also been made, while garden waste recycling has also risen.

"If these figures are maintained the council will not only exceed its recycling target but also save money," Cllr Wilcox said.

"The rubbish limit is compulsory and it requires enforcement but over 98 per cent of our residents are complying fully with our policy and I thank the people of Newport for taking it on board."

Cllr Wilcox said that "very few" warning notices have so far been issued to households.

But Newport Independent Party councillor Kevin Whitehead said the changes have already led to "traffic chaos", with queues backed up from the city tip to the SDR bridge.

Cllr Whitehead said there was also concern the changes will lead to a 'spike' in fly-tipping, as he questioned whether more litter picks will have to be organised to counter the issue.

In response Cllr Wilcox said the council will be monitoring fly-tipping "very carefully."

Mohammad Asghar, Conservative Assembly Member for South Wales East, said on Wednesday he had found evidence of fly-tipping near his constituency office.

Newport council says it issues a letter and a leaflet to households the week before their bins are replaced.

So far around one third of the 65,000 new bins have been delivered across the city.