Fears of a repeat of collection chaos have led Colchester Council refuse chiefs to consider a U-turn on their ambitious recycling policy.
Going green - householders fill their collection bags with garden rubbish to be collected in Straight Road, Colchester. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (36250-1)
Bosses are planning to impose a limit on the amount of garden waste collected from each household, in a bid to improve reliability.
Critics have claimed the move will leave residents no choice but to put leaves and grass-clippings in refuse sacks, meaning council tax-payers will have to bear the cost of higher landfill charges.
But waste and transport manager Dave McManus told the Gazette today: "Our main priority has to be to provide an effective service."
Since the introduction of new multi-compartment collection trucks last year, the council has managed to recycle an estimated 43 per cent of all rubbish, one of the highest rates in the country.
But the success of the scheme can backfire if the section of the vehicle reserved for recycable materials becomes full when there is still room for more black bin-sacks.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, January 19, 2005
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