OUTRAGED residents of Harrow Way have complained to the council this week after collectors ‘refused to empty their bins’.

Up to ten properties were said to have been left with unemptied bins on Monday.

Notes were left by the refuse collectors explaining there was a problem with the collection as the bins had been overfilled.

But residents have argued this was not the case.

“I’d understand if bags were falling out of the bin, but it wasn’t like that,” said Zoe Thorne, of Harrow Way.

“It’s so petty. And if they don’t come that’s two weeks’ waste left there and that becomes an environmental problem, doesn’t it?”

The council responded promptly to complaints, sending out a collection team to empty the bins in question the same day.

“At about quarter to three a guy from the council came in a van,” said a resident who wishes not to be named. “Within half an hour they emptied them all. But they’ve just caused more hassle and costs by doing this.”

A number of occupants noted that they had never experienced such issues before.

“The crew that’s normally on this road are brilliant,” adds Zoe. “They come and get the bins from your house if they’re not left out.”

Another Harrow Way resident, who does not wish to be named, said: “We have been here 12 years and I don’t think they have ever not emptied my bins.”

Residents on neighbouring streets were also affected.

One woman, of Milton Avenue, received a note saying her bins had not been emptied as there was a carrier bag inside containing glass bottles.

Binmen removed the bag of bottles but did not empty the rest of the rubbish bags left in the bin.

“They took the glass out but didn’t empty the bin,” said Charmain, 33, who was housesitting for her mother.

A property in Blendon Drive was also left with unemptied bins. In this case the bins had been overflowing with rubbish, although the premises in question is home to the newly-opened Rainbow Corner respite home.

The facility, run by Andover and District Mencap, provides bespoke care for children with learning disabilities and complex health needs.

It opened last week and, as registered manager Ami Turner explains, staff had been unsure of how many bins would be required.

“Until the kids are here we don’t know many we need,” said Ami. “We have no way of getting the bins emptied. We don’t have a vehicle or bus or van. I don’t really know what we are going to do with it.”

A council spokesperson said: “We empty all bins as long as it can be done so safely. Bins that are overfilled present a risk to our collection teams.

“In this case, a number of bins were too full to empty. On this occasion, as the waste collection team were available, they returned later the same day to empty the bins.”