THE new wheelie bins are well and truly rubbish according to the scores of people who have complained about them.

In a bid to boost recycling Worcester City Council has started issuing two bins to each resident - one for rubbish and one for recycling - and they are being rolled out over the next two and a half years.

But the bins haven't proved popular with everyone and numerous letters have reached the Worcester News. People have complained about when and where the bins are collected, their size, how they are to be kept clean, and confusion over what to put in them.

Some have even demanded that the city council provide a free bin-cleaning service.

Tim Allen, technical support manager for the council's operational services, said it is difficult to say how many complaints they have had.

He said: "There are 12,500 households getting bins during this first phase. Even if five per cent of those complained it would be noticeable. We have assessed properties to see which are suitable. Those with steep steps obviously won't be getting bins.

"I will stress also that the helpline isn't just for complaints but general enquiries and information."

Despite the fact they are here to stay a lot of people still want to make it clear they think the scheme stinks.

Pamela Guest, of Rodborough Close, for example, who is only 4ft 11in tall, wants a smaller bin.

"If someone put me in it I couldn't get out," she said.

"The smaller bin is slimmer, not shorter. I'm worried when I fill it with things like paper it will become too heavy to push."

Sixty-six-year-old Mrs Guest said she understood why wheelie bins were being introduced but felt the council hadn't thought the scheme through.

"It's not really a choice. We weren't asked, we were told, which isn't very democratic," she added.

Householders have also raised concerns that the wheelie bins won't be clean - possibly because they intend to dispense with plastic bags and tip their recyclable bottles, cans and papers straight into their green wheelie-bins.

This prompted local cleaning companies, such as M G Wheelie Clean, to offer an environmentally friendly-cleaning service, pressure-washing the bin and using a 'fragrant disinfectant' to hide smells.

But this week the city council had to issue a statement warning householders that it would not be paying for this service.

Mike Harrison, head of environmental services, said: "Residents must make their own choice, in the same way as if employing a window cleaner."

He suggested some do it themselves: "Householders can simply tip an empty bin on its side and then give the sides a scrub with a firm brush and a mixture of water and a general household detergent."

If you have concerns or want to know when your bin will be arriving, call the wheelie bin hotline on 01905 722514 or 722448.

WHEELIE BINS: THE CURSE OF THIS AGE-A POEM BY READER WENDY TOMS

We Worcester people were not aware that we had committed a crime.

The enforcement of wheelie bins in this time.

Failure to comply with this enforcement they will not allow you to decline.

Otherwise your rubbish will not be taken, left out in the street will incur you a £100 fine.

They say wrap our household rubbish in newspaper to stop the stink.

With warmer temperatures it will be unbearable I think.

Newspapers we are supposed to recycle Have this they forgotten I think.

Just how low in enforcement of their rules will they sink.

Fortnightly collection is nothing but a disgrace.

They are not the ones that have to live with the bin under their window at our place.

The weight of the wheelie bin for example in a 140 litre is 11 kilos when empty,

Heavy enough it cannot be misplaced.

But it can hold another 60 kilos when full, what a disgrace.

They say this will improve health and safety.

Their poor workers it will affect more fatally.

The old black bags could not hold that much and so when lifted gave greater safety.

So give us back our black bags, allow us, and your workers more health and safety.

Wherever you look out of your window there are the wheelie bins.

Up your street and others are those cursed things.

The stench, the smell, next summer we can expect with a vengence, I think.

To war together we go and let's make them think!