THE introduction of Poole's blue bin kerbside recycling scheme has led to the withdrawal of the town's recycling banks.

The paper and glass recycling banks are disappearing from store car parks and other sites - to the despair of residents who have not received bins and to neighbouring Bournemouth residents who use them.

One Poole resident from Yarmouth Road, Branksome, said none of the people in his block of 14-flats had received blue bins and when he went to the Redlands recycling site he found a notice saying it was to go.

"Surely the council can't have missed a complete block of flats," he said. "How would they like it if I missed paying my council tax?"

Ian Poultney, consumer protection services team leader, said: "Yarmouth Road residents will receive their bins as soon as possible and we offer our apologies to anyone inconvenienced. More than 60,000 bins have been delivered in a very successful borough-wide operation and the number of missed addresses has been very small."

While Poole's neighbours may have been able to take advantage of the borough's recycling sites in the past, that will no longer be possible.

"The council is obliged only to dispose of waste from Poole's residents," he said. "The council has made significant investments in its blue bin kerbside scheme to achieve this and with every residence having an opportunity to recycle on the doorstep, recycling banks are being removed to maximise efficiency and avoid any additional waste costs."

Some residents have become confused over a passage in a council booklet which mentions householders emptying the contents of their blue bin into their black one.

"The only occasion when households will be required to transfer the product of the blue bins to the black bin is if it has been rejected because non-recyclable products have been placed in it," said Peter Pawlowski, head of environmental and consumer protection services.

First published: September 24