As reported earlier this month, Hitchin is preparing itself for a new bin service starting in August of this year.

One of the major concerns raised on various local social media challenges is how households will fit the new larger "blue lid bin" on their property.

Not all households will get the new bin due to being unable to accommodate it and will instead get a "collection sack".

The council shared a correspondence with Councillors last week alerting them to the fact that "we have identified therefore, the households we believe would require a collection sack, instead of a bin. These would be limited to houses that we know do not have the space to accommodate bins or other operational restrictions (recycling bags are not optional for residents)"

If Hitchin residents what to check they are eligible for a sack over a bin now's the time to contact their local councillor to check.

As the council have asked councillors to help "identify properties that should be on the list, based on the criteria of; no space to store the additional bin (e.g. frontage directly on to pavement, with no side or rear garden access".

The council also made clear that "anyone with a garden waste bin, would not be considered as not having space".