Recycling boxes in south Cumbria have been reduced in size to stop bin collectors getting back pain and becoming too tired.

South Lakeland District Council is now phasing out 55-litre boxes – used for paper, card and glass – and replacing them with 44-litre containers.

The authority wants to cut the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and reduce “staff fatigue”.

Boxes with wheels and a handle are also available for elderly residents.

Some had complained of struggling to lift the recycling containers.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) – injury, damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the limbs or the back – are a frequent cause of absence among council staff, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council said it had followed national guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A council spokesman said: “This has been identified as a way to reduce the potential risk of MSDs.

“There is now clear evidence associated with the risk factors of the weight and frequency of manual handling of 55-litre boxes.

“The 44-litre boxes are the same length and breadth as the 55-litre boxes and should be capable of fulfilling households’ needs.”

Any resident requesting a new box are now getting the 44-litre version instead of the bigger one.