A scheme to recycle waste in Norfolk has come under fire as a sham from some residents.

North Norfolk District Council said the scheme, which asks householders to separate their recyclable waste, is a success.

A spokesman said 4,000 tonnes of rubbish was recycled every year.

It doesn't always works, said Ray Eaton

But some local people claim to have seen both sets of rubbish thrown together onto the dustcarts.

Part of Ray Eaton's daily routine at his home in Holt is putting recyclables into a clear plastic bag supplied by the council and his waste into another.

The waste lorries have two compartments - one for the clear bags containing the recyclable waste, the other for black bin bags destined for landfill.

But according to Mr Eaton it does not always work like that.

"Sometimes they go into their separate compartments.

"Sometimes you see them going into the back of the lorry all together and that makes me feel angry.

"I've gone to the trouble of separating our rubbish, which we have been asked to do by central government as well as local government, and I expect the council to get the contractors to do their part."

In a nearby Baconsthorpe Neil Ashton said it was a public scandal.

"What really annoys me is that is it widespread around the county."

He said the compartment for recyclables on the collection lorries was smaller than the one for landfill waste.

He believed that was because the council had underestimated the positive public response to the recycling scheme.

Separated later

Council spokesman John Peet said that the system was not faultless.

He said bags which had been contaminated with non-recyclable material were thrown into back of the lorry to be taken to the landfill.

Sometimes recycling bags are put in the back, not crushed and separated later.

Mr Peet also said people often mistook kitchen swing bin liners for the clear plastic bags and their recyclable contents when they are being collected.

But despite the admission that all is not perfect, he said the volume of waste being recycled is proof that overall the scheme is working.