HULL will introduce fortnightly collections of its rubbish next month after refuse workers accepted the switch to a four-day week.
Fortnightly collection of non-recyclable household waste will start on May 14, the council confirmed today, after binmen abandoned their threat of industrial action over the change.
At least 24 posts in the streetscene department look likely to be axed as a result of the new fortnightly rounds for black bins.
Councillors had argued more jobs could have been cut without an agreement over four-day working.
They say the move will help save the authority around £1m a year without damaging recycling rates.
One refuse worker, who did not wish to be named, claimed the vote in favour of the four-day week had only been achieved though pressure from some council managers.
The worker said: "The first vote we had was three-to-one against.
"After that, there was a lot of intimidation and bullying going on from management.
"They were trying to scare the lads into agreeing with something which most of us know won't work.
"Then, all of a sudden, we have another vote and it's three-to-one in favour. It doesn't add up. The lifting mechanisms on the lorries are breaking down all the time, we are leasing wagons from all over as cover and bringing in agency staff to get the job done properly.
"When we go to four days, God knows what's going to happen."
Refuse staff will work from Tuesday to Friday.
Current collection carried out on Mondays will be rescheduled as part of a revised timetable for kerbside rounds across the city.
Fortnightly frequencies for brown and blue bins will remain as they are.
Andy Burton, the council's streetscene manager, said: "A decision has been reached with staff and trade unions for refuse staff to work 37 hours within a four-day week.
"This will result in an improved service to customers and remove the confusion over bank holiday collections."
Joe Gibbins, Yorkshire and Humber area secretary for Unison, said it was for the council to decide whether bin collections should be weekly or fortnightly.
He said there had been a disagreement over terms and conditions but the union felt it had been resolved.
Mr Gibbins said: "When the bins are collected is an issue for the council.
"If fortnightly collections will save money and safeguard frontline services, I don't see how we can argue against them."
Fortnightly collections are being introduced to around 110,000 households in the city to increase recycling in a move aimed at saving £1m a year. Councillor Martin Mancey, environment portfolio holder, said: "To achieve a smooth transition to fortnightly collections, we need the support of our residents and I hope that we can encourage them to recycle more. "I want to thank our residents in Hull who last year helped us to save £2.5m in landfill tax by recycling 50 per cent of their waste, making us a top performing urban council, although we want to continue to increase our recycling rate to over 60 per cent." The council will send information packs to houses in the week before the rollout with details of the changes, new bin collection calendars, a pass for the recycling centres and tips to help them recycle more of their household waste. Recycling advisers will also be knocking on doors throughout the city over the next few weeks to help people prepare for the switchover to fortnightly collections.