Bins will not be emptied in Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Hounslow, Lewisham and Newham.

Three dumps will be closed and there will be no street cleaning in Redbridge.

It is the latest in a series of strikes organised by the three main local government unions over London Weighting.

Why should public service workers get less compensation for the high costs of living and working in London than other public service workers?

Roger Count, GMB

Unison, the Transport and General Workers' Union and the GMB want to see all council workers across London receive �4,000 a year for the living allowance.

London Weighting currently varies for council workers depending on their job and whether they live in inner or outer London.

But the unions have been criticised for taking industrial action after a national two-year pay agreement was reached on 23 September.

Councillor Ann John, from the Greater London Provincial Council, said councils could not afford to meet the claim.

Less compensation

She said: "To meet the union's demand, councils would have to raise council tax by �90, axe 11,000 jobs or cut services.

"London councils are struggling to pay for the recently agreed pay rise for council workers across the UK."

But GMB organiser Roger Count said London Weighting was an entirely separate matter.

He said: "Local government workers get less (London Weighting) than the police, they get less than teachers, firefighters and nurses.

'High costs'

"Why should public service workers get less compensation for the high costs of living and working in London than other public service workers?

"We have still had no move from the employers and if that remains the case, then this might be the foretaste of what is to come."

London's refuse collectors earn between �17,000 and �25,000.

From October they will bring home between �1,464 and �2,751 more than colleagues across the country, say employers.