Hackney Council is introducing a charge of £15 to collect bulky waste items, “because of government cuts”.

The council previously offered four free collections annually of up to five items like furniture and appliances.

But with further cuts from central government to the council budget of £14million over the next financial year, the council has been faced with tough decisions and free waste collection is facing the chop – rather than frontline services like cleaning streets and maintaining parks.

A council spokesman said: “We need to raise money so we can continue to provide the high quality services expected by residents. The proposed charge will be among the lowest in the country.”

Some 26 out of London’s 33 authorities charge for the service, and the cost can be as high as £50. Council home tenants and residents in receipt of housing benefit will continue to get free collections.