WASTE and recycling complaints to Swindon Council have almost doubled since last year and are being connected to the introduction of the green waste charge.

A report from the customer feedback management working party for streetsmart and highways given to the overview and scrutiny committee found that complaints about waste and recycling between April and July 31 have increased by 95 per cent compared to complaints in the same period in 2013.

This has contributed to the total number of complaints increasing from 900 last year to 1,233 in the same period this year according to the available figures.

The report said: “Waste and Recycling complaints have seen the biggest increase in numbers, increasing from 222 in 2013/14 to 432 in 2014/15. Missed collections across the waste services account for 287 of the 432 (66.5 per cent).

“The changes to fortnightly recycling, and the introduction of the paid for green waste service have also contributed to the increase in numbers with complaints with reason ranging from the communication of the changes, the wait for an assessment, and delays to the delivery of bins.”

In March the council introduced an annual £40 green waste charge as a way of saving money, with bosses celebrating the scheme’s success in July after almost 11,000 people signed up.

But numerous spots around the town, such as Lennox Drive in Walcot, have become dumping grounds for fly-tipped green waste after the council introduced the scheme.

Coun Derique Montaut (Lab, Liden, Eldene & Park South), said the increase in the overall number of complaints was directly linked to the introduction of the green waste charge.

He said: “I am not surprised by the fact that complaints about council services have increased recently as I’ve been hearing about people’s displeasure about the decline in council services in my own ward.

“I think the primary reason for the increase in complaints is because of the cuts the council have made to these services which you could say has reduced the quality of life our town’s residents.

“What the council needs to do now to reduce the number of complaints is to stop cutting these services that led so much to their deterioration.”

Coun Brian Ford (Con, Wroughton and Wichel-stowe), the cabinet member for Streetsmart, said that the figures were misleading since the council had only just had the responsibility returned to them by Swindon Commercial Services.

He said: “The service has been taken back from Swindon Commercial Services and we haven’t had enough data of complaints to accurately compare from last year.

However the information we have got suggests there has in fact been an improvement in council services.

“We have not been collecting the fly-tipping because we see it as a reward to the fly tippers, but there are discussions taking place to pick some of it up.

“I want to emphasise that we will be prosecuting everybody that has been fly tipping and in the last year we have already had two successful prosecutions.”