“Waste collection is the most visible service operated by local government, touching nearly 9 million households a year, every week.

“Only 500 complaints have been received in the last year across the whole of local government. That’s less than 10 complaints a week from a service that covers 468 million collections each year.

“District councils take their statutory duty extremely seriously and have played a significant role in protecting the environment and enhancing quality of life for their residents, with recycling rates having increased by almost 57 per cent in the past 10 years.

“Local councils customise services to local circumstances and are constantly innovating to find new markets for recycled goods, encouraging re-use where possible and minimising residual waste to landfill.

“With their unique local knowledge, district councils are best placed to make decisions about how this key service is delivered, whether that be in house or through a contractor. In the small number of instances where issues do occur, the Ombudsman Report can be used to ensure effective collaboration between contractors and authorities going forward.”

ENDS