Nearly 800 people bombarded Wolverhampton City Council in just a few hours to insist they do not want slop buckets delivered to their homes, it was revealed today.

Council bosses have agreed that they will not send out the two controversial new bins to any home if residents are adamant they do not want to recycle their food scraps.

Council spokesman Tim Clark said today that the authority received 775 calls from residents in just one day after the announcement was made last Wednesday.

From January, families in Wolverhampton will be the first in the Black Country to be asked to recycle their kitchen scraps, which account for up to 25 per cent of domestic waste.

The waste will be recycled to provide electricity and fertilisers for local farms.

Large slop buckets will be rolled out to 98,000 homes to be kept outside for the binmen, while smaller ones will be sent out to be kept in the kitchen.

Residents will also be given two rolls of biodegradable bin liners.

A £100,000 leafleting campaign has been launched to promote the scheme.

But the move has been met by resistance from many residents who object to having to sort their rubbish five ways.

The slop buckets come on top of the normal bins provided — black wheelie bin, a green box for cans, paper and glass, a green wheelie bin for garden waste and a white bag for recycling plastic and cardboard.

Chris Smiles, waste policy manager for Wolverhampton Waste Partnership, said: “The city council has always stressed participation in the food recycling scheme is voluntary.

“Though most residents surveyed earlier this year said they would use the service, we will absolutely not force people to take part.

“Likewise, if residents are adamant that they do not want the food waste recycling caddies, they can opt out if they so wish by contacting the council.

“We appreciate many people are already composting their kitchen scraps or may not have room for the bins, however, we’re expecting most people to give it a go.”

To opt out of taking part in the new scheme and to not receive any of the new bins people should call Wolverhampton Council on 01902 551155.