WHEELIE bins have been scrapped as part of a six week trial...but residents have been told to "expect hiccups" along the way.

A reusable, supermarket style bag, has replaced the usual bin for residents in Noak Bridge, which will be used for paper and cardboard only.

As part of the trial, a crate for plastic and metal materials has also been provided.

This comes a week after Basildon Council gave the green light to a move to collect garden waste once every two weeks, instead of the usual weekly collections.

Council chiefs have warned residents to expect problems with the new trial, while issues are ironed out.

Malcolm Buckley, Malcolm Buckley, Tory councillor of the Wickford Castledon ward, and Essex County Council councillor in charge of waste, said: "We would always to expect to see some problems, but that's what a trial is for.

"It makes environmental sense to do this.

"Most households will be able to cope with just one bag, rather than a whole wheelie bin.

"If they can't, they can ask the council, and another one may be provided.

"It's all about being flexible, and this allows us to do it."

If the move to scrap wheelie bins is rolled out across the borough, residents living in blocks of flats could be exempt.

Those in flats would still be able to use communal bins outside.

Officers are "coming up with solutions" for residents who not using a wheelie bin is "not possible."

The overhaul to waste collections in Basildon mean homes will receive a new, smaller box for food waste, which will be separate from garden rubbish.

Food waste will remain as a weekly collection.

The separation will cost Basildon Council an extra £688,000 a year.

A spokesman from Basildon Council, said: "We’re currently undertaking a six week trial in Noak Bridge regarding separated recycling collections.

"There’s no wheelie bins as has been reported.

"Instead there’s a reusable sack for paper and card, and a crate for plastics and metal materials.

"Separating materials this way rather than them being sent to be manually separated, reduces contamination as well as costs and time.

"Cutting out single use plastic sacks would also help in our efforts to become a carbon net-zero borough by 2050."