IT brings to mind the great Eric Morecambe. What do you think of it so far? Rubbish!

Day one was not a good advertisement for York's controversial new waste collection service. Some residents put out their green bins as instructed, only to find that the grey bins were being emptied. Others were expected to put out green bins which have yet to be delivered.

Changing the city-wide collection service is a massive undertaking, and the council blamed "teething problems".

But many of these problems can be blamed on council arrogance and incompetence. There was no consultation, no discussion, no attempt to bring householders on board. Instead of reflecting best recycling practice elsewhere in Britain, this scheme was hastily stitched together and rushed in on the cheap to avoid landfill fines which have been looming for years.

We launched our Bin It! campaign, now backed by thousands of residents, because the changes were clearly ill conceived. Everyone agrees we should recycle more. But this was not the way to go about it.

Coun Andrew Waller answers some readers' questions tonight, and for that we thank him. He insists a pilot scheme was not needed. Yesterday's troubles challenge that belief.

Council tax payers will become angrier as the rubbish piles up uncollected. It is all very well for York council to shift the blame to the bin distribution company, but infuriated householders know who carries the garbage can.

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, October 04, 2005