Richmond Council has defended its decision to introduce front door only rubbish collections, which have received a hostile response from householders.

The changes to the collections are being phased in to save the council £300,000 a year and improve working conditions for binmen.

Back door collections have been scrapped and residents now have to carry their rubbish to the front of their property.

But the Liberal Democrat administration has resisted calls from opposition councillors to provide the wheelie bins, which cost £27 plus VAT, free of charge.

At last weeks council meeting, Lib Dem councillor Katie Gent, executive member for the environment, said: People are free to chose which type of receptacle they use.

Whilst we continue to advise that the largest bins encourage people to produce more waste and may reduce recycling, the smaller ones do solve some of the problems associated with the new rubbish collections.

She added that the council would supply small wheelie bins at a cost of £27 plus vat, but rejected claims that residents would see it as a tax.

So far 44 residents have taken advantage of the wheelie bin scheme. Elderly residents who received help with their rubbish will continue to do so.

Coun Gent said: I am aware that some people are very unhappy about the arrangements. I am also aware that they have a right to tell us what they think at the ballot box.

But she insisted that the new arrangements were introduced to speed up the collections and improve working conditions for binmen.

In the last year 292 working days were lost due to rubbish operatives having accidents, with more than half as a result of falls or slips in back alleys.

There were teething problems when the new regime was introduced in Barnes and Mortlake recently, prompting numerous complaints from residents.

Conservative councillor Nicholas True said: People simply do not understand why, when we pay the highest council tax in London, residents have to hump their rubbish to their front gates.

By.Steven Shukor