AN investigation is to be launched into claims that the council's new refuse contractors have been failing to recycle waste.

Hundreds of collections were missed last week when the Kier company took over responsibility for the borough's waste disposal.

The Guardian was also inundated with calls from residents claiming they had seen refuse staff mixing recycling and normal rubbish together in their trucks.

And yesterday (Tuesday October 11) a photographer for this newspaper snapped binmen appearing to do just that in Forest Road, Leytonstone.

In a statement, the council's cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Clyde Loakes, today announced that the team photographed by the Guardian is to be investigated.

He said: "The council...will expect our contractor to take the tough disciplinary action required should it be found that staff failed to collect recycling correctly.

"We take a zero tolerance approach to recyclable materials that are either contaminated or collected incorrectly.

"The recent change of contract, the new single collection day for both bins and the introduction of split body vehicles are all designed to make sure we drive up our recycling rates."

The council has also apologised for missing collections last week. It has been unable to say how many homes were affected but said that less than five per cent of streets were missed.

The authority also claims that "many of the teething problems" have now been overcome and that all outstanding collections have been picked up.

Has your rubbish or recycling still not been collected? Contact reporter Daniel Binns on 0779 547 6625 or via email at dbinns@london.newsquest.co.uk

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