Bosses are ordering binmen to dump tins and paper left out for recycling, it has been claimed.
Colchester Council's waste supremo Peter Chillingworth was challenged over the allegations at a meeting last night.
Barrie Cook (Lib Dem, St Anne's) asked him: "I have heard that the waste teams are told once they have collected their allocated amount of recyclable materials, they should put the rest in with the rubbish. Can you confirm that is the case?"
Mr Chillingworth responded: "Where this has come from I have no idea."
Mr Cook replied: "Perhaps I should mention that I was told by a member of Colchester staff."
Since the introduction of new multi-compartment refuse-trucks last summer, members of the public have regularly complained about collectors throwing carefully-sorted recycling in the section reserved for black bin-sacks.
The council has previously admitted the practice, but laid the blame with workers keen to stay on schedule by avoiding extra journeys back to base.
Mr Chillingworth stuck to his guns last night - but promised to investigate the source of the rumour.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, February 17, 2005
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