Sutton Council and Veolia are "delighted” after a recent boost in recycling in the borough despite a “challenging” start to their new relationship.

Veolia took over Sutton’s bin service on April 1, 2017.

Data released by the South London Waste Partnership shows that Sutton’s recycling rate for April, May and June this year was 53 per cent, 50 per cent and 53 per cent respectively.

This is compared to 38 per cent, 40 per cent and 40 per cent from the same time last year.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, chairwoman of the South London Waste Partnership Joint Committee, said: “The roll-out of the new collection service in Sutton has been challenging and there are still some isolated pockets of disruption, particularly with flats, which we are working hard with Veolia to resolve.

“But the large majority of households are now receiving a reliable service. As a result, resident satisfaction is improving rapidly; a recent survey showed that three quarters of residents are now satisfied with the service, which is almost back to pre-April levels. And Sutton residents can be proud to say that they now live in one of the best recycling boroughs in London.”

General manager of Veolia, Scott Edgell, added: “We’re delighted that the new service has delivered such a significant boost to recycling in the borough, and that’s down to local people embracing the changes.

“The vast majority of collections are now taking place on schedule and we’re pleased to see this reflected in improving satisfaction levels. We look forward to working with the South London Waste Partnership in the coming years to replicate this across all four boroughs.”

However, complaints are still rolling in across the borough from angry residents saying their bins are not being regularly collected.

Earlier this month councillor Tony Shields said he had offered to personally refund an elderly woman’s annual waste subscription fee of £61.50 after failed bin collections.

He told Sutton Guardian: “As a borough councillor I have a duty to residents and it is entirely unfair that a council takes any payments from the public when their collected action is appalling.”

Mr Shields added: “I think we should either as a council address the problem and get it right from today or just break the contract with Veolia.

“We should be man enough to say we made a mistake because it’s appalling what’s happening.”