A WESTBURY resident who had his green bin replaced by Wiltshire Council fears a reduction in its size could discourage recycling.

Dennis Johnson, of Warminster Road, applied to the council for a new green bin at the beginning of this year after his was damaged when his neighbour’s wall came down in the wind.

But to Mr Johnson’s surprise, the replacement he was given was smaller.

After enquiring into why this was, Mr Johnson was told that the council’s policy is now to issue smaller size green bins instead of the older, larger ones.

He was told the same applies for the grey, general waste bins.

Mr Johnson said: “I can understand why they have changed the policy to make they grey bins smaller, as that encourages recycling, but it seems strange to me that they have also decreased the size of the green bins.

“Also, with the new build of large four-bedroom plus houses, how will people cope with smaller bins?

“I can understand why some people feel that they have to result to fly-tipping, although this of course doesn’t help anything.

“I do a lot of work in the garden and use my green bit a lot.

“I consider to be getting a reduced service due to the smaller capacity of the bins, although I was told I am paying the same rate for my small bins to be emptied as I did when I had the large one, so therefore have a good deal.

“I was also advised that the blue-lidded bin, which is used for plastic and cardboard waste, has stayed the same size, and that is because it is likely we will soon be able to put other types of waste into it.

“I just find it very strange that they have reduced the size of the green bin which is used for recycling, I can understand why with the grey one.”

A spokesman for the council said: “Since 2010, the standard size for the both the green bins and the grey bins have been 180 litres, which is what Mr Johnson was issued with as a replacement bin.

“This is the new standard size, and isn’t just smaller because it’s a replacement bin, and it is likely that Mr Johnson just had an old bin.

“Our blue bins which are used for plastic and cardboard have a standard size of

240 litres so they are slightly bigger.”