The return of weekly bin collections to Haringey would be an “environmental crime,” according to Haringey Borough Council's environment chief.

Liberal Democrat politicians claim controversial fortnightly bin collections introduced in March this year have caused rubbish to overflow and vast numbers of bins to blight the front of homes.

But Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Nilgun Canver, remains in strong support of the 50 per cent cut to household waste collections.

She said: “Our weekly recycling collections and fortnightly rubbish collections are bringing more recycling and reducing the waste going to landfill and incineration.

“This is good news for taxpayers as recycling costs less than incinerating and it's good news for the environment.

"Most residents in the borough have adapted easily to our new waste collection service and have welcomed the changes. It would be an environmental crime to turn the clock back now."

The comments come after environment group Keep Britain Tidy criticised the Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles for suggesting the Government could cut funding to councils that do not restore weekly collections.

Cutting weekly bin collections is expected to save the authority £900,000 per year as well as reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill.

Recycling, garden and food waste is still collected weekly, with each house receiving special waste sacks to store their rubbish until it is picked up.

A 240-litre recycling wheelie bin replaced the small green box previously used by households to encourage people to recycle and help the council meet its recycling targets.