Ms Ainsworth is one of thousands of residents in North Yorkshire being urged to consider heaving large containers full of cans and glass bottles out of their bins for collection.

The appeal has come from worried council chiefs, who are concerned that the heavy lifting could put refuse collectors' health and safety at risk.

Letters outlining the concerns are being delivered to almost 10,000 households around the Craven district, which has one of the region's largest elderly populations.

Ms Ainsworth, of Cross Hills, near Keighley, said the binmen would have to risk a little backache when they come to her home because she already finds the bins too heavy to move.

Dealing with the bins has been even more difficult than usual since February, when she fell at home and broke her wrist in three places.

"I'm having treatment on it now, and I'm still going back to the doctors for check-ups," she said. "I can't lift these containers out, and I only put the rubbish out once a month because they are too heavy for me.

"Sometimes a neighbour takes the rubbish out for me, but he isn't always around to help me.

"It's disgusting and it makes me wonder what I'm paying my council tax for."

Letters are being delivered to 9,500 Craven homes which use a "triple bin" waste collection scheme.

These residents have a wheelie bin for food waste, another for garden waste, and a third for recyclables like paper, glass and tins.

Paper is kept in the recyclable bin, while glass and tins are stored in containers called 'pods' or 'caddy inserts' that are placed on top of the bin.

Council chiefs want residents to take the pods out and leave them beside the bin because they are kept at an "awkward height".

Julie Ward, 40, who has lived in Cross Hills for eight years, said: "When I think about it, I just crack up laughing. I think the binmen are being lazy; It's just so annoying that we've got to start doing half their job for them.

"They're worried that this work might hurt them, but I don't think they've thought about how it might hurt a quite old person to pull these pods out.

"We leave our bins out overnight, and we're worried that some kids might come to kick them over, leaving rubbish all over the street."

Another Cross Hills resident John Castle, 58, said: "If these pods are full of glass and tins, they can be quite heavy. At first I thought the letter was a bit of a joke, but when I read it again I thought 'this is just crazy'.

"We're expected to pay X-number of pounds more in council tax every year and they're cutting the services and wanting us to do their work for them."

Tim Crossley, whose 70-year-old father Ronald has received the letter, said: "This is more than enough for a man of my father's age; I don't want him doing more than he should.

"I know there are a lot of folk who are older than him who aren't going to be able to do what the council is asking.

"Many people leave their rubbish out overnight because the binmen come so early and, if it rains, the pods will be even heavier for them to carry than they are at the moment.

"Residents are doing the work that they've already paid for in their rates and, if somebody hurts themselves doing what the council want, who will pay the medical bills?"

A spokesman for Craven Council said about 2,000 letters have been delivered so far.

"We have been reviewing existing practices in light of recent health and safety advice and as a result have asked residents to work with us wherever possible," the spokesperson added.

"Naturally we do not expect elderly or frail residents to remove the glass and can pods which is why it has just been a request to residents to consider, if they feel able to manage it."