More than 1,500 Eastbourne residents have responded to letters telling them about their new refuse collector.

French-owned Sita UK last month won the £3 million, seven-year refuse collection and street collecting contract in the resort.

Wheelie bins and recycling boxes will be introduced to every home in Eastbourne in June this year in a bid to meet Government recycling targets.

From April 1, Sita will take over from Serviceteam despite the French company's appalling record in Brighton and Hove.

Hundreds of homes were missed as Sita botched a shake-up intended to increase productivity.

In June 2001, Sita agreed to give up its £6.9 million contract with the council and pay back £3 million.