COLCHESTER'S waste supremo has said he gained a valuable insight into the recycling issues the town faces after he spent a day with a rubbish collection team.

Elliot Furniss

COLCHESTER'S waste supremo has said he gained a valuable insight into the recycling issues the town faces after he spent a day with a rubbish collection team.

Tim Young, Colchester Borough Council's cabinet member for street and waste services, spent a shift with a Colchester crew this week and was shocked by the amount of rubbish people were still throwing away that could be recycled.

He said: “One thing I noticed was how much recycling people are still putting in their black bag waste.

“I was picking up many black bags that were still full of paper, bottles, cans and cardboard.”

He said it would be something he would be taking it to the cabinet in a bid to try to get even more people in the town to recycle more of their waste.

Mr Young also praised the skill and dedication of the collection team he worked with, especially the driver who amazed him with his ability to manoeuvre through narrow streets.

He said: “I was so impressed with how hard they have to work - I'm aching all over after just one day.

“But what a dedicated and committed bunch they are in Colchester - they give a level of commitment to their jobs that people don't appreciate.”