A binman sacked after he was filmed tipping food waste in a general rubbish bin claims he did not do anything wrong.

Kieron Edwards, of Querns Road, Canterbury, was given the boot by Serco bosses after CCTV footage emerged of him mixing the waste in Whitstable.

The 26-year-old, who had worked for the firm for three years through an agency, says the food caddy contained dog waste.

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“I did exactly what we get told to do,” he said. “If a collection is contaminated, we should put it together with the rest of the waste. When I looked into the food bin, it was full of dog poo.

“That means it’s contaminated, so I did what I should have and mixed it with the other domestic waste. I was just doing my job.”

The CCTV clip was posted on social media by a resident in Colombia Avenue and sparked an angry response.

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

Mr Edwards added: “After the video went on social media, I was summoned to a meeting and they just got rid of me.

VIDEO: Mr Edwards was sacked after this footage emerged

“I told them the reason why I did it but they didn’t believe me and I was told to go.

“I hope the person who filmed me is happy because we have a baby due in December and now I have no job.”

After his sacking, a petition was launched to reinstate Mr Edwards.

He said: “I want my job back. So far 441 people have signed the petition. It needs to reach 500 before my position can be reviewed. My workmates are on my side and they feel sorry for me.

“The bin had dog poo in it, so I did nothing wrong.

“I’m not saying that the resident was the person who put the poo in the bin, as it could be dog walkers passing by who just see a bin and put the waste in there.”