FAMILIES claim they have been left in the dark about changes to rubbish collection days under the three-bin system, which started in the Rochford district this week.

The new regime uses three wheelie bins – one for recyclables, a second for leftover food and garden waste and a third for all other rubbish.

Each week families put out the garden waste bin. The other two bins are collected fortnightly, in rotation.

But residents told the Echo collection dates changed without any warning.

This week families in Clarence Road, Rayleigh, put out their recyclable waste on Monday, only to learn their collection date had been switched to Wednesday.

And residents in Brooklyn Drive, Teignmouth Drive and Torquay Close missed their collections as their pick-up days were moved from Thursday to Monday. Although the council has sent out information packs to advertise the changes, many residents say they have not received them.

Karen Spicer, who lives in Teign-mouth Drive said she new nothing of the changes to collection days.

She said: “Our rubbish was last collected last Thursday and no-one on this road has been putting out their bins since.

“We had something through from the council two weeks ago and it said to put out the rubbish on our usual collection day.

“My recycling bin is full.”

Meanwhile, in Derwent Avenue, many residents say they still have not received two of the three bins they need.

Clare Botley, a mum-of-three, who lives on the road, said: “The council forgot about the bins for our estate, I haven’t had mine.

“They just put a recycling sticker on the black wheelie bin which we already had. Because I didn’t have any other bins, I just put all my rubbish into that one.”

Rochford District Council leader Terry Cutmore asked residents to be patient with the new system.

He said: “I believe some of the collection dates have been changed, but residents should have been informed in their recycling leaflets.

“There are bound to be some problems in getting this off the ground. It would be absolutely amazing if there weren’t.

“At least we have not got sacks of rubbish lining the streets. At least it’s in bins.”

Anyone with problems with their rubbish collections, can call the council on 01702 318079 or go to www.rochford.gov.uk