POTTY councils force households to sort rubbish into as many as ten bins — in waste separation systems branded “mind-bogglingly complex”.
Town halls, between them, have the baffling array including containers for general waste and recycling alongside niche battery and coffee pod categories.
To make matters worse, almost seven in ten local authorities now charge extra for rubbish disposal services, such as garden waste collection, the TaxPayers’ Alliance study found.
Among ten-bin councils are Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil in Wales which, at six, is the nation with the highest average for bin collections.
England — where Cotswold in Gloucs is another ten-bin council — Scotland and Northern Ireland all averaged four.
Gosport in Hants has, with two, fewest bins for collection said the study which follows an unfulfilled government pledge last year to cut the number of bins in England to three.
TaxPayers’ Alliance chief exec John O’Connell said: “Councils place an enormous burden on households through the often mind-bogglingly complex system of waste separation.
Bin collection is a key service taxpayers are funding, yet in large parts of the country it’s residents themselves responsible for much of the heavy lifting.
“Recent proposals to simplify the system should be fully enacted across the whole UK.”
Government department Defra said: “We’re committed to reducing waste and increasing recycling while making this process simpler for the public.
“Further announcements on recycling reforms will follow.”
