THE controversial new waste collection service has ‘gone live’ in Chester this week.

But the system continues to attract widespread criticism from residents who are opposed to the changes being introduced this week by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

For weeks, The Chronicle has been inundated with letters, emails, Facebook comments and tweets from people who do not see why the previous system needed to change.

The main criticisms of the new system involve the increase in the number of bins from three to five, the complexity of what rubbish goes in which bin and the small size of the recycling containers which many are filling in a single day.

Some residents are also angry at the way some of the old bins have just been dumped on grass verges or left on pavements and are still awaiting collection after two weeks.

Today’s Views section in The Chronicle (pages 34-35) is dominated by residents who are unhappy with various aspects of the new system.

Comments include: ‘money being wasted by Cheshire West and Chester with regard to the introduction of our new recycling system’; ‘please will someone rethink this system as a matter of urgency’; ‘Heaven help us when the new system starts!’; ‘I should be most interested if you were able to find one person who thinks it is a success’.

Claire Farrell took to our Facebook wall to highlight her experience. She wrote: “I'm all for being able to recycle more items and I even understand the need to be more cost effective.

“However I’ve already found it isn't working for me, and I haven't even had my first collection yet.

“I find the boxes too small, I’ve already filled them, and now have about four carrier bags full of recyclables that although I’m told will be taken, it doesn't look very nice.

“When I asked for extra boxes, because I know I will need them, I was told they won’t supply them until I’ve given the boxes a proper go for a couple of weeks.

“It’s a lot more complicated it was easier with the blue bin it all just went in the same bin, now I have to constantly check the list to make sure I'm separating it properly

“Looking around Blacon, all I see are full bins or strewn rubbish. These bins seem to be too small in general for everybody.”

The kerbside-sort system - christened Recycle First by the council - allows residents to recycle materials ranging from glass, plastic and food cartons to small electrical items, mobile phones, textiles and cooking oil.

And a separate weekly kitchen waste collection will enable food scraps and leftovers – which currently make up one third of residual household waste – to be taken for recycling rather than landfill.

Cllr Lynn Riley, executive member for community and environment, said: “The new service will boost recycling rates to more than 62% – potentially making Cheshire West and Chester one of the best performing areas in the country.

“By treating recyclable waste as a valuable resource, our partner May Gurney is maximising the quality of materials it collects to get the best possible price for them.

“This keeps the cost to the taxpayer down, providing savings of more than £50m over the 14-year life of the contract.”

The council has worked with waste contractor May Gurney to develop a customer-focused service that allows residents to recycle as much waste as possible.

Labour Cllr David Robinson, Opposition spokesman for community and environment, said: “May Gurney has provided an eye-catching new fleet of bespoke recycling vehicles fitted with cutting-edge technology.

“This will allow the collection crews to keep the different types of recycling separate to minimise contamination.”

Households have received two new 55-litre recycling boxes - together with a 23-litre bin for kitchen waste. These will all be collected weekly.

A new 180-litre black wheeled bin has been provided for residual household waste.

The brown and blue bins that were removed as part of the transformation will be sold for recycling and income generated will be invested back into the new service.

Zak Shell, contract manager for May Gurney, said: “We look forward to working with Cheshire West and Chester Council and its residents to make sure this new service is a success.

“Our new service offers residents the opportunity to significantly reduce their waste and allows us to recycle material that would otherwise go to landfill.”