Reaction to the arrival of new bins on doorsteps around the Croydon has been mixed, with many residents expressing anger about the new scheme. 

Croydon Council will be introducing a new waste collection system in September which means all households are getting new wheelie bins.

The council expects it will increase recycling from 30 to 50 per cent and save £5 million a year.

Councillor Stuart Collins has called on residents to get behind the scheme stressing that the new bins take up just 22.5 inches more than the previous ones.

In Purley some residents with front gardens said the bins were not a problem.

Abdul Basit, 25, of Whytecliffe Road South said they were a good idea if they would increase recycling across the borough.

Howver, his neighbour Mary Holmes, who has a set of stairs leading up to her house, said: “I personally think for a small house like this they are ridiculous- they are a nuisance. It would be different if it was a big house with a big front garden.”

The 62-year-old added that she didn’t think her household of two would be able to fill the new larger recycling bin.

Over in Montpelier Road Gareth Freedman, 34, said he didn’t mind the bins as he had space to keep them in the front garden.

He said: “The main issue for people is space but the council obviously feels there is a need for it.

“We tend to have quite a lot of cardboard and plastic so I think we will fill it.”

In the same road 67-year-old Robin Edwards said since the bins arrived they haven’t bothered him.

“We have got the space for them but my wife thinks it’s made the place like a bin store,” he said.

“We do sometimes have too much stuff to fill the recycling box so I think we did need more space.”

But Mr Edwards said he was cynical the scheme was would increase recycling in the borough.

“I wouldn’t think it would make that much difference,” he added.

Shirley Chantrell, 74, has lived in Green Acres near Lloyd Park since the eighties.

She said she was shocked when the bins arrived before 8am on Wednesday (July 25) and tried to insist the company took them back.

Ms Chantrell lives in a row of houses off the road with no front gardens so the new bins are currently lined up on the pavement.

“They are too big for us and we don’t want them,” she said.

“The council isn’t listening to us we haven’t had anyone come here and look at the space.

“I don’t even fill the small bin, how am I going to fill these big ones.

“It is not safe to have them on the walkway and I would like to see the dustmen get past the bins.”

Elizabeth and Danny Harris were also surprised to see the size of the bins which were delivered to their front garden.

Mrs Harris, 76, said: “I am very proud of my garden we’ve have spent money and time making it nice.

“I don’t want these two bins there – it spoils it.” Mr Harris, 80, called it a ‘ridiculous situation’ and said he felt the previous waste collection was adequate.

He said: “The council, without prior consultation, arbitrarily imposed two huge wheelie bins on our forecourt defacing our quite pretty front garden.”

The council on it’s website said that ‘specific consultation’ on the details of the new contract as has come into force as part of the South London Waste Partnership (SLWP).

The SLWP is made up of Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston.

On the Croydon Council website it said: “Research into Croydon residents’ views and perceptions of waste management helped the boroughs to agree on the broad principles and evaluation criteria for the new service before asking the market to offer the best solutions.

“This research showed strong and consistent support among Croydon residents for our drive to boost recycling and reduce landfill.”

The first collection of the new service will be made on September 5 and people can start using their new bins from August 22.