ANGRY residents have dismissed claims fortnightly bin collections are working, blaming the changes for maggot infestations.

Since the new waste collection service for the Maldon district rolled out in June last year, general waste has been collected fortnightly in black wheelie bins.

Louise Berryman, of Southminster Road, said: “Many times in the past couple of months during the hotter conditions I’ve gone to place my bin bags into the dustbin and it is alive with crawling maggots.

“In winter it is not such a problem but the humid and warm conditions drive these horrible things to fester in the bins.

“It’s not just me having problems, many neighbours and other people in Southminster tell me the same thing.

“Even if it’s just one collection a week, it would help to prevent them coming.

“I feel if they can do it with the green waste collection then they should be doing it with the normal refuse. We pay our taxes.”

A council spokesman said: “Taking a few precautions can reduce the likelihood of getting maggots and flies in your wheelie bin.

“Maggots in wheelie bins only exist if flies have been allowed access to rubbish.” Group manager Karen Bomford, during a recent meeting, said: “Since the introduction of the new system, refuse has gone down by about a quarter.

“Dry recycling has increased by 11 per cent.

“We have gone from recycling 48 per cent to nearly 60 per cent which is amazing and highly commendable.

“The residents seem to have embraced the new service, and we hope we can push on next year and make it into the top ten authorities for recycling.”