Councils are rejecting Government calls to bring back weekly rubbish collections, according to a new survey today.

Local authorities warn attempts to change back from fortnightly to weekly waste collections would dramatically increase costs – and will reverse efforts to increase recycling rates. Some councils are also planning to introduce charges for bulky waste and picking up garden waste.

They are also planning to axe free collections of fridges and freezers, reduce tip opening hours or revise bin rounds to cope with budget cuts.

John Wallen, Shropshire Council’s waste policy manager, said today: “There have been no discussions about reverting to weekly waste collections.

“Shropshire Council runs a bulky waste collection, operated by Shropshire Furniture Scheme, and charges item-by-item, but makes no extra charge for regular household waste or recycling collections.”

Telford & Wrekin Council also confirmed that it had no plans to return to weekly collections but has introduced, after public consultation, a £15 charge for disposing of bulky waste.

The survey comes as ministers wrote to councils in England warning against “backdoor bin charging” for rubbish collections which they said would not be legal, would put financial pressure on families and were bad for the environment.

Not one of more than 100 councils which responded to the survey was planning to increase the frequency of refuse collections.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles last year ordered the Audit Commission to repeal guidance to local authorities which he said had forced the move to “unpopular and unhygienic” fortnightly rubbish collections.

Clyde Loakes, of the Local Government Association environment board, said as recycling rates had soared there appeared to be no need to introduce a rigid, nationally imposed system of bin collection.

But Local Government Minister Bob Neill said: “We will deliver further reforms to help councils increase the frequency of recycling and rubbish collections.”