Residents in Tonbridge and Malling have got used to the new waste recycling requirements introduced by the borough when the council switched contractors from Veolia to Urbaser at the end of September.

But it seems the binmen haven't.

CCTV of the recycling being mixed up with rubbish

Residents are now requested to put all glass, cans and recyclable plastic into a green-topped bin, and to put cardboard separately into a smaller green box.

But East Malling resident Simon Cocks, who has CCTV covering the front of his home in Carnation Crescent, inadvertently filmed the contractors placing cardboard on top of the green-topped bin, before emptying it all into the same section of their refuse lorry.

"What's the point," he asked, "of our going to all the trouble of separating out the cardboard only for them to remix it again? It's a complete fiasco."

Mr Cocks wrote to the council to complain, saying: "They just responded with an 'Oh, thanks for bringing it to our attention'."

A spokesman for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council said: “While the video shows most cardboard being placed in the correct section of the lorry, it does appear that a few pieces are put in with mixed recycling. We are grateful that this apparent mistake has been brought to our attention and have referred it to our contractor who is investigating.”

Under the new waste collection system, residents have a green-lidded bin for mixed recycling of glass, plastic, and cans; a green box for paper and cardboard, a black caddy with an orange lid for food waste, a black bin for non-recyclable waste, and brown bin for garden waste.

In addition, batteries and small electrical items will be collected if left out separately.

• For more details click here. https://www.tmbc.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/recycling,-rubbish-and-waste/household-waste-rubbish-collections

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