CASTLE Point Council is running out of pink sacks after launching a campaign to remind families to recycle.

Bags are being rationed because they are in such short supply with residents limited to picking up just five at a time.

It comes after the council launched a campaign urging residents not to forget to recycle over Christmas, when households produce more rubbish than any other time of the year.

Keen recycler Dot Palmer, 64, of Linden Way, Canvey, said: “This is absolutely ridiculous. Do they think people really have the time to dash up and down to the library every day?

“I went into town before Christmas to try to get some pink sacks and they did not have them then.

“How can we recycle if we do not have the equipment?

“If people can’t get any sacks they will just have to chuck their rubbish in black bins which is such a waste.

“Hopefully, the council has learnt from its mistake and this will not happen again next year.”

A roll of pink recycling bags is delivered once a year and if residents run out, they can normally be picked up from leisure centres, libraries, and the council offices in Castle Point.

However, only Canvey Library, in the High Street, Runnymede Pool, in Thundersley, and the council offices in Kiln Road, Thunder-sley, have any left.

Residents have been unable to get recycling bags from Hadleigh Library, in London Road, for over two weeks.

For the first time, more than half of household waste in the borough was recycled last year, up from 39.4 per cent in 2010.

A spokesman from the council, said: “Due to significant demand before Christmas, it has been necessary to restrict the number of bags to five in order to maintain a supply of pinks sacks until a new delivery is received.

“This demonstrates the continuing success and residents’ enthusiasm for the pink bag recycling scheme.”

Residents can also take their recyclable waste to the recycling centre for household waste, in Canvey Road, Canvey.

Castle Point Council hopes to receive a delivery of new bags by the end of the week.