Cow bins are axed after M5 delays

Drivers have been slowing down to look at the Cowbins

Bins painted to look like cows in a field next to the M5 are to be removed after complaints that motorists were slowing down to look at them.

The unusual Friesian-patterned "herd" is part of an initiative to encourage young people to recycle waste.

But waste containment firm Taylor said it had received some emails saying the bins were causing traffic delays.

Sales and marketing director Dr David Gillett said they would be removed from the field near Weston-super-Mare.

Defra waste strategy

"We are most concerned to ensure that our display does not give rise to a hazard," he said.

"Before we put the Cowbins there, our health and safety manager spoke to the county council and Highways Agency and they didn't have any concerns about them.

"We also looked at other much more noticeable and potentially distracting features such as the wicker man by the M5 near Taunton and noted even that did not cause the slowing down of traffic to look at it."

But he said that if there was any doubt at all, removing them was the safest option.

The bins are designed to make a statement about the environment and sustainable living in the wake of new Defra waste strategy.

They to be used by schools from September, after trials showed that more was recycled in the specially-painted bins than in the ordinary ones.