77478-39AVID newspaper reader Leslie Matthews loves keeping up with the latest stories. Besides the Advertiser, he scours The Sun and Daily Star every day.

So he was thrilled when Swindon's kerbside recycling scheme was launched last month, meaning he could enjoy his favourite papers without clogging up the environment. He had no trouble filling his orange box, but the trouble is no one has been round to collect it. And the 77-year-old great grandfather says his neighbours in Ponting Street, Swindon, are in the same position.

"We got the box at the beginning of April, and I expected the council to be round every week or so to collect it," said the retired laundry driver, who is married to Beryl, 74.

"I fully back the idea of recycling because it helps the environment, but this is terrible."

Mr Matthews says none of his calls have spurred Swindon Council into action.

"I have called time and time again, but nothing happens," he said.

Ponting Street is not the only area with recycling problems.

The scheme which led to changes in the rubbish collection schedule descended into chaos soon after its launch last month.

Some householders were given incorrect information, and residents were left fuming after bin collectors arrived on the wrong day.

Hellen Barnes, spokeswoman for Swindon Council, apologised to Ponting Street.

"Unfortunately we have had problems with a contractor that have now been sorted out," she explained.

"There will be a recycling collection in Ponting Street this Friday afternoon and this will then follow on every other Friday, the next being June 3."

Around 30,000 homes now have kerbside collection boxes, which can take newspapers, tins, foil, glass and textiles.

Six waste disposal teams visit around 1,500 homes a day, collecting around 20 tonnes of rubbish.

The Government has set strict targets for recycling.

Swindon must recycle 30 per cent of waste by 2006. Its current level is just over 20 per cent.

Tamash Lal