Residents, councillors and an MP have had mixed reactions following the decision to scrap glass bottle banks across Eastleigh in a bid to crack down on fly-tipping.

Those living in the borough are being encouraged to use kerbside glass collections as banks are set to be removed from September 9.

The decision has come after the council said there were a number of recurring issues at bring bank sites such as fly-tipping, vandalism, litter, misuse and contamination. 

READ MORE: Glass bottle banks scrapped in fly tipping crackdown

Conservative MP for Hamble Valley, Paul Holmes, whose constituency partially falls under the Liberal Democrat local authority said: “Far from cracking down on fly-tipping, this will increase fly-tipping and puts an end to the claim that Eastleigh is a ‘climate change Borough’.

“This move is simply a service cut from a council that has chosen to borrow £700,000,000 to build houses, rather than to provide decent services to its customers. More cuts will come.”

Steven Broomfield, Conservative councillor for Fair Oak and Horton Heath said: “Dressing up a cost-saving measure [for] recycling [reasons] - it's a bit peverse."

He added: “Providing the council get the kerb side collection sorted out and that they offer the service that they should offer then removing these recycling bins is understandable.

“I just think we need to make sure the service to take glass bottles from the doorstep is up to scratch and is operating to its full effectiveness.

“In the current economic climate, I’m not unhappy with what Eastleigh is doing but it needs to be clear why it’s being cut and dressing it up because we want to recycle... you’re not going to increase recycling if you’re going to take [away] a recycling option. “

Paul Holmes MPPaul Holmes MP (Image: NQ)

Following the decision, residents took to social media to share their thoughts on the decision.

Facebook user Stephanie Lemon said: “Crazy idea when manufacturers are considering changing from single-use plastic to recyclables such as glass.

“I really don’t see why the glass bins can’t remain at recycling centres.”

Chris Churchill said: “I thought the green mandate was to reduce energy use and provide more opportunities for recycling. It seems a little counterproductive to reduce the recycling options to just two small black tubs.

“If there is a reduction in use surely just reduce the amount of locations. Not systematically remove all of them!?”

Meanwhile, Robert Whittington said: “Never had an issue with the kerbside and can't remember last time I even considered using a glass bank. If it saves money removing them then sounds like a good idea.”