FED-UP residents have resorted to taking their own rubbish to the dump as collection problems continue in Southend.

The new recycling pick-up system has faced issues from the start, with many complaints about missed collections.

Badgers are now said to be getting into uncollected rubbish too, with some residents deciding to head to the tip themselves.

Less than two months after the roll out of a revised four-day collection system, Southend Council’s waste contractor Veolia has still not got the service running smoothly, leaving residents angry.

Gill Gillham of Repton Grove, Southend said: “Our rubbish hasn’t been collected on the right day for three weeks now, it’s just appalling.

“If you have a contract, you are expected to do it correctly and on the right days. Veolia has just signed a 15-year contract with the council and it is just not working. “They already cut the service down from five days to four but it’s obviously not right. There is rubbish strewn across the road and badgers are getting into it because it is being left out but not collected.

“It’s also the surrounding affected, including Western Approaches and Green Lane.”

Gunn Hultin, 38, of Lifstan Walk, Southend, isn’t happy either. She said: “It is still an ongoing issue and we are fed up with it. It is ridiculous but there is nothing we can do.

“I am having to actually taken my own rubbish to the tip, because otherwise it would stay on the streets.

“But it is not just my street. You can walk around Southend and see the mess. It seems like Veolia are under time limitations because when they do come, they take some but not all the bags.

“It is crazy. My neighbour has had some rubbish collected but not all of it. I want it sorted but I don’t know to.”

Dipti Patel, Head of Public Protection at Southend Council, was sorry about the problems. She said: “We regret that residents have experienced missed collections during our transition period to a new four-day recycling and waste collection service.

“Veolia is continuing to adjust collection rounds and the company’s management has been alerted to the issue on Repton Grove and some neighbouring streets. Collections on these streets are now being closely monitored to avoid further issues in future.”

The company says it has a had a “marked decrease” in complaints.