Residents of flats on Bathurst Walk in Iver were forced to live with pests and the smell of rubbish after the communal bins were missed for two weeks.

Frustrated Richings Park residents posted on the community’s Facebook group to air their concerns.

Corinne Birch, resident at Buckfield Court since October, was constantly reminded by the overflowing bins as her back door is only five metres away.

She said: “The rubbish is everywhere as well as rubbish due to foxes and rats which we can hear at night.

“The smell is atrocious. Depending on the weather it depends on how bad the smell is." 

Apparently, the large communal Buckfield Court bins serving around 20 flats were due for collection on Monday but were missed on January 24 and again on January 31.

Only one large bin was emptied but it was left on the side of the road, Ms Birch said. 

She said: “People aren’t able to put their bags in the bin because it is overflowing so they’re having to leave them on the floor.

“It’s frustrating because our flat is so close to the bins it’s awful for visitors to see and for us to smell.

“It’s embarrassing really when people come round and there’s rubbish everywhere."

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Ms Birch noticed issues with the building’s waste collection from the beginning of December.   

“The bins weren’t collected before Christmas and it wasn’t until the new year they were collected again.

“All I want to say is I know we’re not the only ones in this area who have constant bin issues.

"The council need to sort it out as it is an ongoing debacle.”

Iver ward Councillor Paul Griffin said: “There have been issues from the start of the new contract, mainly around which waste goes into which bin.

“The council has provided an unfeasibly small box for card and paper waste which is inadequate for most families, given how reliant we all are on delivered goods.”

Another Richings Park resident Sinead Cross said uncollected bins were becoming a serious issue in the area: “Richings Park bin service is appalling, they drop rubbish everywhere which residents have to go out and pick up.

“Sometimes they want to empty it sometimes they don't, it depends on their mood that morning I think.”

Waste management company Veolia was contracted by Bucks Council to run services previously handled by Biffa in the south Bucks area from November 1 onwards.

One major change was around recycling: now residents don’t need to separate cardboard and paper and both can be placed in one box for collection, the Council said.

Cllr Griffin added: “Residents have been trying very hard to adhere to the new rules but those same rules don't appear to have been rolled out to the operatives who are taking a rigid approach with little if any leniency. 

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“Naturally this has caused distress and concern amongst the community and as an area that pays some of the highest rates in the county, it would be nice if there was some tolerance shown.”

Councillor Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment commented: “We are sorry to hear some residents in Iver have been experiencing issues with their bin collections.

"We know recent changes to paper and cardboard recycling collections have taken time to get used to. We first communicated the changes to residents in September and had a three month settling in period in order to give time for people to adjust.  

"In line with the changes, since 24 January our crews have been instructed not to collect mixed recycling bins containing paper and cardboard. If these items are removed the bins will be collected on the next round of collections.

“We are happy to provide additional recycling facilities for communal properties if residents are finding there is not enough room to dispose of their recycled waste with the current allocation.

"Crews will also take excess recycling on their next round if left neatly and sorted correctly, close to the main bins at any property.

"We continue to work with residents and communities to ensure people know the correct way to leave out their recycling for collection.”

Bucks Council said problems with bin collections can be reported here.