A HOME owner has hit out at new refuse collection arrangements in Bournemouth claiming they have left the streets strewn with rubbish.

Karl Charalambous said he has been unable to rent his flat out because potential tenants are put off by the mess in the street.

And he claims he has seen rats on the pavement near ripped-open bin bags.

Mr Charalambous, a property consultant, owns a flat in Bryanstone Road in Winton where wheelie bins are overflowing.

He said: "There is so much rubbish on the pavement that people are having to walk in the road to get round it.

"There is broken glass on the ground and I watched a lady, who was carrying a baby, having to step out into the road."

Mr Charalambous added: "This is a nice area and it is a shame that the rubbish is spoiling it. It looks awful and it is a health hazard."

Bournemouth council used to collect rubbish every week with recycling collections once a fortnight.

But since April both collections have been fortnightly, collected on alternate weeks. Food waste is collected weekly. The changes were brought in to save around £500,000 a year.

A Bryanstone Road resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "Some people don't seem to have enough room in their rubbish bins but I haven't seen many food waste containers put out.

"Perhaps if they used the food bins it wouldn't be so bad."

Stuart Best, Bournemouth council's Street Services Manager, said any confusion about the new collection arrangements appears to be subsiding.

"Initially we were handling a high volume of enquiries regarding the alternate weekly collections both on social media and by telephone. We are now seeing a drop off in enquiries and are delighted at the positive high uptake and use of the new larger food waste bins.”

"On recycling days the collection team can take extra recyclables if left in a box by big bin. You can now also recycle even more items at the kerbside. We collect household batteries and small electrical items, measuring no bigger than 30cm x 20cm x 20cm, alongside your other recycling."

Larry Austin, Service Director for Environment, has urged residents to do their best to reduce the amount of waste that goes into their rubbish bin and to take up the offer of a larger food waste bin.

He said: "We appreciate there will be a period of adjustment whilst people get used to the new service. The Recycle More, Waste Less pack includes a leaflet on what you should and shouldn’t put into the Big Bin and Little Bin, as well as helpful advice on how to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the Little Bin."

For more information, go to bournemouth.gov.uk/FoodWaste.