Couple's shock after refuse collector 'mixed rubbish'

A couple have questioned whether their local bin collection system is "a bit of a sham" after footage appeared to show a refuse collector tipping the contents of all three bins into the same lorry.

Angela and Andrew Hill, from Buxton, in Derbyshire, were woken by the arrival of the bin lorry on a Thursday - not their usual collection day.

They said they looked on in confusion as their security footage showed the refuse collector disposing of recycling, garden waste and general rubbish into the one lorry.

High Peak Borough Council said it believed it to be an "isolated incident" which did not reflect "usual practice".

Andrew and Angela Hill said they tried to make sure they sorted their rubbish properly

Residents of Buxton have a grey bin for general waste, a brown one for recycling and a green-lidded bin for garden waste and food.

Seeing the contents of the three bins mixed together has left the Hills frustrated.

Mrs Hill said: "You do think 'are we being sold a bit of a pup?' Or is it really going to be recycled?

"I think, like most people, you feel it's all sort of a duty to recycle - you want to do your bit to make sure the waste is properly sorted.

"We've got a plethora of bins and the street is filled with bins and you feel, if you're not actually recycling, why do we need this great load of bins that are sort of a mess?"

The Hills have raised the issue with High Peak Borough Council, but have said they have not received a reply.

On the council's website, it said most residents would have seen changes to their scheduled collection days from the 20 October onwards.

People living in Buxton have three separate bins to manage their rubbish

Mr Hill said the system was usually very good with recycling efforts but this particular refuse collection raised questions.

He added: "You wonder 'is this something that happens a little more frequently?'"

"What does happen to our recycling after it's actually gone into the lorries?"

Household rubbish is usually taken from Buxton to Derbyshire County Council waste management centres run by contractors.

They attempt to make sure rubbish is correctly sorted before delivering appropriate waste for recycling, composting green and food waste, and sending the rest to generate energy in incinerators.

After being made aware of the video by BBC News, High Peak Borough Council said it had investigated with its waste collection partner, Alliance Environmental Services.

The council said: "We believe this to be an isolated incident which had occurred due to operational pressures outside of their control, the collection method does not reflect usual and standard collection practice for separated waste streams.

"The council continue to work closely with AES to mitigate any future occurrence of this nature."