Braintree Council has hit back over complaints that Christmas rubbish collections were inadequate, saying nothing can be done.
Residents said it was unacceptable for bags to be left outside homes for 15 days over the holiday.
Paul Holmes, of Josselin Close, Earls Colne, said: "It's the one time of the year when we all generate four times more rubbish but it's the one time they don't do as many collections.
"I don't know what they did in publicising it. Everyone thought they were coming around."
However, Peter Tattersley, operations director with responsibility for refuse collection at Braintree Council, defended the council, saying it would have been impossible to collect everybody's rubbish this year.
Mr Tattersley said: "It simply isn't possible to collect everybody's rubbish between Christmas and New Year. There aren't enough hours in the day."
Published Wednesday, January 12, 2005
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