Highgate, Muswell Hill and parts of Crouch End are moving to fortnightly bin collections in a bid to increase recycling rates and slash costs.

Haringey Council hopes to save �900,000 a year by halving refuse collections.

But recycling boxes will be replaced by larger bins and collected weekly, along with garden and food waste.

Cllr Nilgun Canver, environment chief, said: “We all know that we have a responsibility to leave a better future to our children and grandchildren.

“It makes sense, not only for the environment, but by saving money for the council.”

Recycling costs �40 per tonne compared to general waste disposal at �90 per tonne.

Cllr Canver rebutted claims that halving collections could lead to an overflow of bin bags dumped on street corners and said increased recycling capacity would offset the reduction.

But Highgate Cllr Bob Hare warned residents did not want small front gardens “cluttered” by larger “unsightly” plastic bins.

He said: “Getting something as simple as this so wrong seems utterly barmy to me.

“It probably will increase the rates of recycling, but people in London need to have access to their gardens.

“We have a lot of people in cottage-type dwellings with small gardens and information on how they can get a smaller bin is not being given out to people.”

Blocks of flats are not affected by the change, which will come into effect in March.