A MEETING with residents is being set up in a bid to end waste problems at a Banbury block of flats.

Complaints were lodged with Cherwell District Council after recycling wheelie bins at Setler House in South Street went unemptied for a month.

Resident June Archer said: "The bins are supposed to be emptied every two weeks, but have now been missed twice.

"The binmen come and look, but do not take the rubbish.

"The bins are full to overflowing and residents are having to leave papers and cardboard on the ground."

She said: "I telephoned the council but they told me the bins were contaminated - that they contained some items that were not recyclable. They suggested that I put up a notice reminding residents that only certain waste items should be placed in the bins.

"I am frustrated and fed up. It is a real mess and something needs to be done.

"There are 27 flats in Setler House and most people do recycle properly. There must be some way the council can deal with situations like this. How long are they going to leave the bins unemptied and how big will the pile get before action is taken."

Kieron Mallon, the council's executive member for the environment, said: "The problem is the large turnover of people who live at Setler House. Some are very responsible and recycle properly, but others are not - either because they don't know how to, or because they don't care.

"There has been cross-contamination of the bins, with non-recyclable rubbish dumped in the wrong bins.

"We need to sit down with residents and sort out the problem."

Mr Mallon said: "The council is in the process of looking at all the flats in the district where similar problems occur, in a bid to help residents comply with recycling systems."