WHAT a load of rubbish! – that’s the message to Cheshire West and Chester Council from residents who dislike a new waste collection service.

The system – which aims to boost recycling and cut costs – has already begun in the former Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port areas and starts in Chester in the week beginning October 8.

Pensioner Harry Harrison, 76, of Oldfield Drive, Vicars Cross, is the latest critic to contact the Chronicle after taking delivery of the new containers.

Mr Harrison says the new service will cause householders ‘a significant amount of work’ and extra cost.

He is unenthusiastic about having to wash the new food waste caddy every week after lining it with newspaper or alternatively paying for compostable bags.

And the OAP doesn’t agree with having to buy wheels for the recycling boxes or face having to carry them to the kerbside.

In response to the claim that the borough-wide contract will save more than £50m in council taxpayers’ money, he told the Chronicle: “That’s because I’m doing all the sorting and all the carrying and all the washing!”

His message to the authority is: “Recycle this scheme!”

Tattenhall Parish Council recently heard there is an assisted service for pensioners and disabled people who need help carrying the new boxes.

Cllr Patricia Black said she herself would struggle to lift a box of old newspapers and joked about the number of new containers: “Do they provide a shed for you to put them all in?”

Council leader Mike Jones, who was present, said: “If you know of anyone who needs that sort of help then you need to get them registered with us now so they can get the assisted service.”

He said recycling rates were now up to about 70% in the former Vale Royal area, which was ‘fabulous’.

As far as he was aware, refuse collectors would continue to go down long drives to pick up the waste.