COMPLAINTS about the waste collection in Southend continue with badgers getting into the rubbish and some residents taking their own rubbish to the tip.

Less than two months after the roll out of a revised four-day collection system, Southend Council’s waste contractor Veolia has still not got the service running smoothly, leaving residents angry and frustrated.

Gill Gillham, from Repton Grove, Southend said the problem was ongoing. She said: “Our rubbish hasn’t been collected on the right day for three weeks now, it’s just appalling.

“If you have a contract, you are expected to do it correctly and on the right days. Veolia has just signed a 15-year contract with the council and it is just not working.

“They already cut the service down from five days to four but it’s obviously not working. There is rubbish strewn on the road and badgers are getting into it because it is being left out but not collected.

“It’s not just our road either, it’s the surrounding ones including Western Approaches and Green Lane.”

Dipti Patel, Head of Public Protection at Southend Council, said: “We regret that residents of Repton Grove have experienced missed collections during our transition period to a new four-day recycling and waste collection service.

“Veolia are continuing to adjust collection rounds and the company’s management has been alerted to the issue on Repton Grove and some of its neighbouring streets. Collections on these streets are now being closely monitored to avoid further issues in future.

“Despite a difficult start in rolling out the new service, collections are now improving, reflected by a marked decrease in calls through to our customer service centre and reports of missed collections.”

Gunn Hultin, 38, from Lifstan Walk in Southend did not think the service was improving. He said: “It is still an ongoing issue and we are fed up with it. It is ridiculous but there is nothing we can do.

“I am having to actually taken my own rubbish to the tip, because otherwise it would stay on the streets.

“But it is not just my street. You can walk around Southend and see the mess. It seems like Veolia are under time limitations because when they do come, they take some but not all the bags.

“It is crazy. My neighbour has had some rubbish collected but not all of it. I want it sorted but I don’t know to.”

The new collection system has faced issues from the start, with complaints of rubbish piled on the streets and collections being late or missed completely.