WASTE bosses are facing unprecedented demand for recycling boxes in the wake of the roll-out of a new waste collection system in Tendring.

Tendring Council estimates it will run out of its red and green recycling boxes by the end of the week, with additional stock set to arrive at the end of the month.

Bosses are urging residents to use “any suitable plastic container” to store recycling.

Since the beginning of the wheelie bin rollout on June 10, the council estimates more than 10,000 recycling boxes have been claimed.

Under the old waste system, about 30,000 were claimed across seven years.

The council say this is an early sign of the scheme’s success.

Michael Talbot, councillor responsible for environment, said: “We have been monitoring stocks and ordered more recycling boxes, and I would like to apologise to anybody inconvenienced by this.

“This surge in demand was anticipated, but the level has outstripped supply.

“However, we believe this is a very positive sign of just how much recycling is being taken up by residents who either weren’t doing it at all before, or who are upping their game, which can only be a good thing for the environment.

“As long as households use a suitable plastic container – and the contents are the correct materials for that particular collection – our contractors will still collect it.

“In addition, we appreciate there have been a considerable number of residents contacting us by phone, email and social media with questions about the service and their individual property. I would reassure people we are working our way through all of these enquiries, and ask you to bear with us.”

The wheelie bin roll-out is set to finish in August.

More than 57,000 households, 90 per cent of the district, will receive the bins and move onto fortnightly collections of black bag waste.