Concerns have been raised that new smaller-sized wheelie bins being issued by Aberdeen City Council could lead to an increase in fly-tipping and littering.
Some residents have voiced fears that the slim-line containers may not be large enough to accommodate rubbish, especially given that the general waste buckets are only collected once a fortnight.
The position has been backed by the Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection, a group which has battled the introduction of reduced capacity receptacles in England.
The organisation has described the move as a “backwards step” and argued that rubbish could end up “piled up” in back gardens while more illegal dumping takes place.
But the council’s waste management and recycling team has insisted that it has studied best practice in other local authority areas and said there is “no evidence” that the changes would lead to an increase in fly-tipping.
Following a council decision on Tuesday, residents will be issued with containers with about one quarter less capacity – a reduction from 240 litres to 180 litres.
However, the size of recycling bins will be increased to accommodate extra materials such as plastic tubs and waxed drinks cartons that will no longer have to be discarded.
The larger containers will replace the existing black box for glass bottles and sack for newspapers and cardboard.
A spokesman for the city council said: “Throughout this process, we have been in regular contact with local authorities elsewhere in the UK which have already implemented this type of service.
“They have told us it has been positively received by householders with no increase in litter or fly-tipping reported.”
The council has said the changes will effectively triple householders’ recycling capacity and allow extra items to be recycled.
These include plastic pots, tubs and trays and waxed food and drinks containers, which are currently not accepted on the kerbside for recycling.
The spokesman added: “This will remove these bulky, rigid items from the general waste stream reducing the amount of waste needlessly being dumped in landfill.”
Scottish councils are all working to meet government targets to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
By 2025, the aim is that 70% will be recycled or composted. In 2012, Aberdeen City Council managed 37.3%.
It is expected that the changes to recycling in the city will be rolled out in financial year 2015-16.
A council spokesman said that some existing general waste containers will likely be re-used as larger recycling bins.
The position regarding tenement flats and high-rise blocks remains somewhat unclear, however.
The council spokesman said: “Flats and tenements will continue to be served by communal recycling arrangements and we are considering options with regard to introducing a mixed recycling communal service for these properties.”
The cost of new bins that will be required is budgeted for in the capital plan for the council’s zero waste project and would be offset by savings in landfill tax.