People will have the chance to quiz council and waste collection bosses after rubbish piled up around Epping Forest earlier this year.

The district endured weeks of black bags and rubbish on the streets after a new four-day collection schedule started on May 12.

At a public meeting on December 17, people will now have the chance to directly question bosses including Roger Edwards, managing director of contractor Biffa, and environment councillor Will Breare-Hall.

Epping Forest District Council has claimed every question about the general service – rather than specific failed collections – will be answered.

Both the council and Biffa, which has a £50million, 10-year contract, were widely accused of reacting slowly to the debacle.

An official report says: “Following the switch to the four-day collection schedule and the introduction of new vehicles and technology on 12 May, it quickly became apparent that the contractor was struggling to provide the service required of them.

“Over a period of several weeks, an unacceptably high level of missed collections were reported.”

With “software issues” in new vehicles initially blamed by the council, members of the public said collection crews were being forced to do more work in less time.

Cllr. Breare-Hall said extra costs for agency staff and two extra vehicles could reach £30,000.

Questions must be emailed to democraticservices@eppingforestdc.gov.uk – or posted to Democratic Services, Epping Forest District Council, High Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4BZ – before December 11.

The meeting on December 17 runs from 7pm at the Civic Offices in Epping, and will also be ‘streamed’ online at www.eppingforestdc.public-i.tv.

For more information, visit http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/.