"I hope this is going to raise the public's opinion of rubbish collection. Being in the front line, we're often on the receiving end of complaints," he said.

Doug Smith, waste and street scene manager, said rear steering also reduced wear on the back tyres, saving the council thousands of pounds a year.

Ernie Bull, a refuse collector who works with one of the new satellite lorries that will deal with waste from about 1,700 households, said the new way of working was much more efficient.

"I've had a lot of the public come to me and I've explained that bigger lorries can't get through the lanes. They like the new lorries," he said.

Kevin Cork, assistant supervisor for the west zone, said: "I want to get out on the rounds more. We should be on their tails making sure they're picking up everything."