Most homes in Tendring are to be issued with a wheelie bin from next summer, despite over a third of residents being against the proposal.

Tendring District Council (TDC) has announced households across the district will have a black 180-litre wheelie bin for their non-recycling waste, which will be collected fortnightly, following a controversial council decision at yesterday’s cabinet meeting.

The changes are being introduced as part of a revised seven-year deal with contractors Veolia, and are designed to increase recycling rates, reduce the amount of rubbish blown around streets from ripped black bags, and control costs.

The council added that existing recycling arrangements will remain unchanged.

However, following a public consultation last month, which has 483 responses, the council found that just 52% of residents were in favour of the proposal, meaning almost half considered themselves undecided or opposed to new wheelie bins.

Out of the 170 people against the proposal, 65 said they found the bins unsightly, 28 said they had no room to store a new bin, and 20 were concerned about potential smells, vermin or pests.

A further 28 people said they were worried about arrangements for elderly or disabled people.

Angela Barnes, treasurer of the Weeley Residents’ Association, said the bins were an eyesore.

While residents may choose to cover the bins with patterned sheets to brighten them up, Mrs Barnes said the majority would blemish otherwise pretty streets.

“I just find the bins unsightly,” she said.

However, Michael Talbot, TDC cabinet member for environment, said there were multiple benefits to the changes.

He said: “Firstly, by replacing black bags with wheelie bins we should stop the problem of animals tearing open rubbish and leaving it strewn across our streets. While I sympathise with people who say bins are unsightly, I believe they are much neater than this current situation. By moving to fortnightly residual waste collections we also hope to encourage people to recycle more.

“There is also a significant cost implication. To carry on with the current service would cost the council an additional £400,000 which would mean adding £9 onto an average home’s council tax bill.

“With our new deal there is only a slight increase in cost.”