MISSED bin collections have soared in York since the introduction of alternate weekly waste pick-ups, a leading councillor has claimed.

City of York Council is "badly missing" its waste targets this quarter - with the number of bins which have not been collected on due days rising by almost 57 per cent on this time last year - according to Coun Ruth Potter, the opposition Labour group's environment spokeswoman.

Council officers in an authority report have blamed the introduction of alternate weeks of green and household waste for the problems, which have also seen the number of missed collections put right by the end of a working days fall sharply against targets.

Coun Potter said such increases in missed collections were "completely unacceptable".

But Coun Andrew Waller, the council's environment chief, said the percentages were based on a "small number of missed bins" and that the authority was "driving down" this figure.

The council report reveals that 106.5 bins are missed for every 100,000 that are collected by environment workers. The target is 60.

Coun Waller said the 106.5 figure was now 62.57 in February. The fortnightly waste scheme was relaunched this week, following a winter break.

The Evening Press "Bin It!" campaign is opposed to the scrapping of weekly household waste collections, but supports recycling initiatives. More than 7,500 people have backed our stance.

Coun Potter said: "Under the Lib Dems, the basic services to residents in York seem to be in terminal decline.

"Every time a bin collection is missed, they have to go out to collect it all over again.

"This adds up to more wasted time and money.

"It really shows what a mess they have made of introducing the twin bin scheme, which has almost certainly contributed to these figures.

"They have reintroduced the fortnightly collection again this week, so let's just hope they can get it right this time!"

Coun Waller said: "The percentages are based on a small number of missed bins, but we have been successful in driving down this figure by reminding crews of exceptions in their rounds, and putting efforts into informing residents about the times that they need to present their bins.

"We have reduced these figures significantly over recent months, and where we miss a bin it is either put right that day, or the following day."