Redundant green recycling boxes deemed a “magnet for litter” will be collected by Haringey Council now they have been replaced by larger bins.

However, at this stage, only households affected by the service changes in March – streets in Highgate, Muswell Hill, Fortis Green, Alexandra and parts of Hornsey, Noel Park, Bounds Green, Woodside and Crouch End - will have their boxes picked up by waste contractor Veolia.

A statement released by Haringey Council today said: “Now that residents in the first phase of the improved recycling services have had time to get used to the changes, we’re happy to remove the unwanted green boxes.”

The council is in talks with Veolia about getting the boxes collected and says the removal will be underway as soon as possible.

Councillor Jim Jenks said: "Abandoned green recycling boxes just become a magnet for litter and dumped rubbish, so it is essential the Council removes them."

The changes to bin collections in the borough have attracted much controversy since their introduction three months ago.

Recycling is still collected weekly and the council has provided larger 240 litre wheelie bins to each of the households affected by the changes.

However, general rubbish is picked up once a fortnight rather than the previous weekly collection, leading to concerns that the borough’s streets are looking untidy and plagued with wheelie bins.

All of Crouch End, Hornsey, Bounds Green Noel Park, Woodside, Harringay, Bruce Grove, Stroud Green and West Green were hit by the changes almost two weeks ago.

Parts of St Ann’s, White Hart Lane and Tottenham Green were also affected.