A petition has been launched to reinstate a binman said to have been sacked after he was filmed tipping food waste in a general rubbish bin.

The CCTV clip was taken by a resident who posted it online, which sparked an angry response from householders, furious that their efforts to recycle appeared to be useless.

It led to an apology by city council which has been urging residents to separate their waste into the different bins provided.

Council chiefs said it was “bitterly disappointing” and bosses at waste management contractor Serco described it as “completely unacceptable”.

The incident was filmed in Columbia Avenue, Whitstable, by Jonathan Gwyer who posted it on Facebook.

It will have done nothing to have enhanced the relationship between the company and the local authority which has complained about performance of the contract, saying it was concerned that “standards had slipped.”

Commenting on Facebook, family and friends of the binman claim he has lost his job as a result. That has now caused a backlash on social media from some residents who think he has been treated too harshly.

Video: The man is seen emptying food waste into a general bin

A petition has been started by Canterbury resident David Moore urging Serco to give him his job back which has already gained almost 200 signatures.

In it he says: “He has lost his job over a silly mistake that a lot of workers probably do.

“He has a baby due in December and we who are signing this petition believe it to be an unfair dismissal.

“The food waste bin that was emptied into the domestic bin was contaminated, but the domestic bin for some households has soiled nappies.

“We believe this man has only done what he should have.”

The petition has been posted on change.org and can be seen here.

A Serco spokesman said the employee had worked for the company through an agency for three years but would not confirm whether he had been sacked, adding: "We do not comment on individual HR issues."