PEOPLE living in a block of flats claim they have had only one recycling collection this year despite numerous complaints.

Neighbours in Cornwall House in Harrington Road, Brighton, have raised concerns about collections not being made regularly enough from the block of 12 flats.

Elderly residents said they were expected to take large communal recycling bins full of their waste to the pavement so a collection can be made – but they had not been informed that was required of them.

Retired Pat Reed, who is over 80 and has lived in Cornwall House for 26 years, said: “There are two blocks on the road that are in the same position.

“The council still aren’t doing anything about it.

“The lady down the way from me was told they are supposed to bring their bins down the road and put them on the pavement.

“They are saying they won’t come to the flats to pick it up but we have never been told.

“It is not fair. Someone has got to put a full recycling bin out there. The bin is for the whole block.

“We have only had one collection since Christmas, when they came at the beginning of January.”

When The Argus visited the residents of Cornwall House, their communal recycling bins were full to the brim with plastic bottles and other waste.

The residents say recycling collections are made fairly regularly for those living in the road but the block of flats is subject to collection by a separate team.

They say there is no problem with the collections for non-recyclable waste from the flats.

Ms Reed said residents have called and emailed Brighton and Hove City Council numerous times to complain but the issue still has not been resolved.

She said: “In our block we are all really fed up about it. We just want it collected and a regular collection.

“The sensible people are just putting their recycling in with the normal refuse. It is pointless not being able to use the recycling service.”

In relation to collections from flats, the council’s website states: “If you are elderly, disabled or for any other reason not able to take your recycling to the bins we ask that you please speak with whoever helps you dispose of your refuse.

“Unfortunately we cannot go to individual properties within blocks of flats to collect recycling or refuse.”

A council spokesman apologised and said a senior manager at CityClean would ensure the bins were emptied by today at the latest.

He will also be carrying out an internal inquiry into what has gone wrong.