However, it does come complete with warnings urging people not to climb in, as they could end up hurtling into a seemingly bottomless "deep pit".

The Shared Waste Service for Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils has already begun collecting residential waste from the underground bins in Eddington, the University of Cambridge’s new district.

Residents are told what can be recycled and given clearly labelled bins for their kitchens which match the signage on the steel bin chutes outside.

The project means residents will no longer have to lug the heavy bins out onto the street, worry about when to put which bins out or where to store them.

They will also be free of the sight and smell of the unsightly traditional bins - one underground bin replaces around 20 wheelie bins.