Mike Bridges, 65, criticised Warwick District Council for "not listening to people's needs".

The semi-retired Combroke Road resident is registered as disabled and says moving the large new wheelie bins is a problem.

He has storage space behind his property - but the only access is through his garage. When he phoned the authority's Sort It team to request a special bin-free arrangement, to make lighter work of it, he says he was ignored.

Mr Bridges said: "The Sort It Team are the judge and jury on these matters and you cannot appeal. They won't listen. I asked if I could use bags. The only other way would be to give the bin men keys and I find that an intrusive idea. I know we will be able to recycle more, but they can bill this however they like - it's a downgrade in collection services and I am not happy."

But for head of waste management, Jackie Webb, the case demonstrated "the difference between can't do it and won't do it".

She said: "If he has a garage he has a drive. He does have storage at the front, he just doesn't want to use it.

"He can choose not to have a green bin, that's voluntary.

"But in terms of the grey one - that is how we will collect in the vast majority of cases.

"If he doesn't want to do that he can go to the tip himself.

"We have spoken to 2,500 people requesting special arrangements and it has usually been the difference between can't do it and won't do it."

Mrs Webb also said the small percentage of houses receiving sack collections after the switch would be allowed a maximum of two bags each week.