Waste removal firm Veolia say they have made “significant improvements” to recycling despite residents feeling anger over failed bin collections.

Sutton residents have contacted Sutton Guardian in massive numbers to vent their unhappiness at a lack of waste collection consistency.

Veolia took charge of the weekly bin collection from Sutton Council on April 1 this year and many residents have complained ever since.

Resident David Cleary from Ewell Road in Kilick Mews said, “They have only done three non-recyclable collections since April 1. They didn’t turn up yesterday which was four weeks in a row.”

When Sutton Guardian contacted Veolia for a comment, they said, “We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by missed collections. Since the launch of the new service, we have seen significant improvements in recycling across the borough, particularly in the uptake of food waste.

“However, for residents who have not had a collection within 24 hours of your scheduled date, please do not hesitate in contacting us and reporting this online at http://www.sutton.gov.uk/recycling."

Soon after Sutton Guardian contacted Veolia yesterday morning (Thursday), the bins on Ewell Road were collected, even though the collection date is usually a Wednesday.

But Mr Cleary remained unsatisfied.

He said: “I have a vote of no confidence in Veolia and Sutton Council until my bins are collecting again next Wednesday and the Wednesday after.”

He added: “It is very frustrating, I have spent maybe 20 or 30 hours-worth of time making calls, sending emails and reporting miss-collections.”

Mr Cleary claimed that Sutton Council and Veolia are always “very sympathetic on the phone” but “it never amounts to anything”.

Austine Young, a neighbour of David Clearly, also conveyed his concerns.

He said: “We are worried about health and safety. The council are not listening and I can’t understand how they can keep their consciousness.

“The people here are very anxious. There are a swarm of flies and the hot weather is meaning that this is soon going to really affect our health.”

A Suttton Council spokesman said: "Veolia visited there (Kilick Mews) yesterday and found the landfill bins were nearly full although not overflowing. They should have been collected on Wednesday, but apparently the access is on Ewell Road and not Anne Boleyn's where they access the other bin sheds for the same development.

“For this reason it was unfortunately missed. But the bins have now been emptied and going forward the crew are aware of access for this particular street.”

Chris Whittles, a residential estate agent, explained what he thought the issues were.

“One of the problems of communication with Sutton is that they do not recognise the development of Dairy Mansions. This consists of Whyte Mews off Anne Boleyn’s Walk and Killick Mews off Ewell Road.

“They are all connected by pedestrian access in the middle but have bin stores at each end. This was not a problem until the new collection arrangements when the Killick Mews end got forgotten about.

He added: “I am a keen recycler and I see that the recycling at Dairy Mansions is of very poor quality and fouled by many items that should not be in that bin. I will have to try to take action to educate the residents.”

Ted Stanley, a property manager for Alvernia Lodge, a residency for elderly people, says that the bins there have not been collected for three weeks.

He said: “No recyclable bins have been delivered to the property yet. The bins are overflowing and in this heat it stinks. I’ve lost count of how many calls and emails I’ve sent.

“Veolia are an absolute farce. I am thinking of dumping the rubbish at the steps of the town hall or at Sutton councillor’s Ruth Dombey’s home address.”

Mark Kelly lives in Bramble Wood Close and says that his bin collections have been “inconsistent” since the Veolia take over.

“I put my bins out on the green which hadn’t been collected for three or four weeks, they collected it and left the bin there.

“They sometimes just take one and not the other. It is extremely frustrating. They are meant to be better for the environment but they are actually making things worse. The photo with the maggots is disgusting.”