THE COUNCIL has issued an apology after dustmen were caught emptying a recycling bin into the back of a wagon bound for landfill.

A resident watched the Street Scene collectors throw his carefully sorted recycling into their lorry with rubbish collected from the rest of the street.

Dorien Pigg, who lives at Westbrook Villas, said he was told the collectors "didn't have time" to sort through the items.

"It looks like the whole lot will have gone to the landfill," said the 67 year-old.

"I watched them pick up all the recycling I had sorted through and throw the whole lot in the back of the wagon.

"I asked them why they weren't sorting it all out, and they said they didn't have time."

Mr Pigg said he makes a point of sorting through all his waste every week to make sure he recycles everything he can. He then leaves the items out for collection by Darlington Borough Council.

"I always make sure I recycle everything I can because I think it is a good idea," he said.

"I even take off all the labels on beer bottles and tins.

"But you have to wonder - what is the point of sorting everything out if it is just going to be thrown on a tip.

"I find that I can sort my rubbish down to the point where you can recycle just about everything.

"The council recycles paper, cardboard, glass, metal tins, but I also try not to throw out plastic wrappings.

"It is surprising when you have taken all that out of your rubbish to see how little you have left.

"It takes a lot of thought and a lot of time but it is a terrible waste if you don't do it.

"It makes a big difference - but if they're going to chuck it all away it is wasted."

He added: "I don't know how often this happens.

I have seen them sort the recycling out properly in the past so hopefully this was a one off."

A council spokeswoman said: "The recycling bins in this street were collected in error.

"There had been a delay in collection because of the bank holiday but a street scene worker saw that some recycling was awaiting collection.

"There have been issues in this area with rubbish blowing around the street and youths throwing recycling out of the bins, so the decision was taken to collect the recycling with the general waste.

"This should not have happened and we apologise."