KENNET District Council has ended all confusion over waste collections on weeks when there is a bank holiday by arranging for their binmen to work on bank holidays.

As from May Day bank holiday on Monday May 2, residents' waste in the district will be collected on the usual day, even if it coincides with a public holiday.

Many residents had complained that they were left in a quandary over when their black plastic bags would be collected when bank holidays intervened.

Easter and Christmas collections were even more confusing, with some areas not having their waste collected for two weeks following the Christmas break. At Easter, a waste collection took place on Good Friday but not on Easter Monday and some residents either left their bags out a day early or missed the collection altogether.

Mark Smith, Kennet's environment and amenities manager, said: "There has always been an element of confusion about waste collection during a bank holiday week.

"The council has historically placed notices in the local press advising of the correct procedure during bank holiday weeks but some residents have experienced difficulties in placing their waste out on the correct day, which results in missed collections and waste left out.

"Keeping the waste collection days the same all year will ensure that our residents receive a seamless service throughout the year."

But refuse collectors will not lose out. For working on a public holiday, they will receive treble their usual pay.

The new terms and conditions recently brought in by Kennet for their cleansing staff now mean they can operate the new system of collecting recyclable waste from the kerbside.

From Monday a new arrangement with county council contractors Hills Waste came into effect. Hills now pay Kennet to undertake a kerbside collection of glass, paper and metal cans.

Kennet has also introduced a new optional green garden waste collection scheme for an annual payment of £20.