ENVIRONMENTAL chief councillor Dennis Brown hit back this week at criticisms of Salisbury district council's recycling scheme.

Amid claims from some residents that the new kerbside recycling system is chaotic and confusing, Mr Brown admitted there had been "teething problems" and urged residents to "bear with the council".

Mr Brown agreed "things could have been done better" and that there should have been closer liaison between the council and Hills Waste, the recycling contractor engaged by Wiltshire Waste to run the scheme.

Mr Brown said a meeting was taking place this week when he hoped the teething problems would be ironed out.

Mr Brown said that Hills Waste is responsible for the black plastic boxes and Hills Waste will collect them from the kerbside.

Salisbury district council remains responsible for the refuse collection service and the collection of garden waste, which will be recycled to make garden compost.

What is confusing many residents is that the garden waste sacks supplied by the council need to be put out for collection along with the plastic boxes which will be collected by Hills Waste.

What to do with clean cardboard is adding further confusion.

Mr Brown said clear instructions had been issued with each black recycling box saying what it was to be used for and what should be put into the paper sacks delivered with the box.

Mr Brown explained: "If you have received a black plastic box, inside it are instructions and one or two paper sacks.

"The sacks are for garden waste and kitchen peelings which will be collected by the district council for recycling and turning into compost.

"These should be placed outside at the same time as the plastic box and will be collected by the district council whose vehicle will follow the larger Hills Waste lorry.

"We suggest clean cardboard is placed alongside the sack because cardboard is for recycling into garden compost. The council will collect cardboard."

Still confused?

Well, you can't put plastic bottles, envelopes, Yellow Pages, broken glass, duvets, pillows or shiny metallic plastic such as crisp and peanut packets into your plastic recycling box. Envelopes have gum on them which makes them unsuitable for recycling.

Yellow Pages have to go with domestic refuse ( that is the black plastic bag) or taken to the household waste recycling centres at Churchfields or Amesbury where there are special skips.

If your plastic box is too full you should use separate plastic carrier bags and leave them alongside the box. Don't use black plastic sacks because they can be confused with refuse sacks.