COUNCIL bosses say despite weeks of teething problems, which include households having black bags left rotting for a week and residents opting to sell their wheelie bins in an online black market, the borough’s controversial new waste collection system is working.

The controversial new recycling plan, which includes a three black sack limit and some households being given wheelie bins, came into force three weeks ago.

New figures released by Colchester Council yesterday show a drop in the amount of non-recyclable waste since the collection service was changed last month.

From weeks starting June 26 and July 4 landfill reduced by 28 per cent and 370 tonnes compared to this time last year.

Waste boss Jessica Scott-Boutell (Lib Dem) said she was delighted at the early signs of progress and hoped it would help move Colchester up the recycling league table.

She said: “These impressive early figures provide clear evidence the new collection service is beginning to make a huge difference to the amount of waste the borough sends to landfill.

“I am absolutely delighted residents have embraced the new service so well and are helping to increase the total amount of waste we now recycle.”

Council leader Paul Smith (Lib Dem) praised residents for recycling more and helping to overcome early teething problems with the new service.

He said: “I would once again like to thank the people of Colchester for helping to dramatically reduce the amount of general waste we send to landfill.

“These remarkable results support and complement figures published only last week which show collection of food waste in the borough has increased, and offers further proof that the new waste collection service is beginning to influence a positive shift in residents’ attitudes towards recycling.”

Last week the council said food waste recycling had increased by 50 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Despite the overall success, some residents are still being left frustrated by ongoing issues with the system.

On Monday, The Gazette reported how Ruth Burke left black sacks outside her home in Audley Road, Colchester on the correct day but refuse collectors drove past her home without collecting them.

Mrs Burke was repeatedly told it would be 72 hours for them to be collected, but was still waiting for them to be picked up a week later.

Residents have also been found selling council-owned wheelie bins on Facebook for £20.

Council bosses have warned against the black market practice saying they will be unable to collect non-recyclable rubbish from houses who have been given wheelie bins if they are not there.