CRITICS have slammed new wheelie bins for “looking dreadful” and creating a hazard for the elderly and pushchairs - but many others have welcomed them.

Brighton and Hove City Council is in the process of replacing stackable black plastic tubs for recycled waste with large 240 litre wheelie bins, after trial schemes showed the larger bins marginally increased recycling rates.

More than 60,000 households will receive the new bins after the changeover began a month ago and in one street which has already received the new boxes they have divided opinion.

Estelle Laybourne, 60, who lives in a flat in Seaford Road in Hove, told The Argus her new bin gets in the way.

She said: “If I lived in a house and could bring my bin in off the street that would be fine.

“But it’s a problem for flats.

“Outside the flats they’re just sat there looking dreadful.

“I guess it’s a trade-off between environment and recycling, and environment and upkeep.”

Sue Milner said: “St Leonards Avenue is littered with these monsters and looks dreadful.

“They are a hazard for the elderly and mums with buggies.”

She said the council had been slow to respond to her requests that her wheelie bin be exchanged for a smaller one.

But other Wish ward residents are big fans of the new bins.

Charlotte Clarke said: “I much prefer them.

“They are much more tidy and hold more recycling and it doesn’t end up strewn all over.

“We have plenty of space for it too mind you.”

Carolyne Mckinlay called them a “big improvement” on multiple black boxes, and Sara Van Loock said: “I know I’m recycling so much more. So much better than the little boxes.”

Lizzie Carter said: “I also prefer the new bins but I always put mine back into the garden off the pavement as otherwise it makes the street like an assault course.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “We want to make it easy for everyone to recycle their household waste.

“Residents have the option of ordering a larger or smaller size.

“Following a successful trial figures showed that, on average, households recycled around 1.1 kg more waste per collection, more than 95 per cent of residents taking part in the trial told the council that using wheelie bins made it easier to recycle.”

Glass must still be collected separately.

For more information about the new recycle bins go to the council website.