DESPITE a significant number of complaints aired on social media platforms across the borough, Thurrock Council says that, in general, the first week of its new bins collection regime went well.

From Monday, 8 April, the council initiated its fortnightly collection of both general waste and recycling waste bins – and introduced its paid-for bin subscription service.

A statement from the council says: "Household waste collections have gone well in the first week of the new collection schedules, with no significant issues with collections having been reported by residents or crews."

The council spokesperson says some of the complaints published relate to a misreading of instructions and data presented in a household leaflet drop.

In response to a query from Thurrock Nub News he said: "The example you have sent below appears to be related to the fact that additional blue bin collections took place in all properties during the first week as outlined in the attached letter, which was sent to all houses with the leaflet.

Residents have taken to social media to register problems, but the council says its message was quite clear.

"The letter says: 'To ease the transition every household in the borough will receive a recycling collection during the week of 8 April. All households should put their blue recycling bin out on their scheduled collection day between Monday, 8 April and Friday, 12 April'."

The council says it is also on target to meet the number of subscriptions it requires to make the new service cost effective. The target by year end was for 11,900 subscribers, paying £80 for the service up to mid February next year.

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A statement says: "The level of subscriptions is on track and increasing daily as more and more households sign-up. At the time of writing the council has received over 7,370 subscriptions with an average of around 250 new subscribers joining a day over the last fortnight."

The figure for subscriptions in Thurrock is much lower than that in neighbouring Basildon, which has also introduced charging.

Its cost is £50 for 45 weekly collections, with a midwinter six week break and already more than 25,000 have signed up.

Thurrock Council explained its position, saying: "The cost of providing a garden waste collection service is reliant on demand for that service, as the more homes that subscribe the greater the number of rounds that will need to take place. In setting a cost the council took likely subscription rates into consideration."

More information about collection schedules in Thurrock can be found on the council website at thurrock.gov.uk/bindays. The page also has an a-z of streets so residents can check when their collections will take place.