SOUTHEND Council has signed up to a tough ten-point pledge promising families a better waste and recycling service.

Today, the council joined the national Waste Collection Commitment and vowed to provide a value-for-money rubbish collection service which meets their needs.

This commitment was developed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme and the Local Government Association after researching what people like and dislike about their existing services.

Householders were also asked about the issues they feel are most important, including regular and reliable collections and clean streets after collections.

Southend’s councillor for waste, Tony Cox, said: “By signing this commitment, we are reinforcing the message that we are committed to providing residents with a waste and recycling collection service which is right for them.

“The commitment sets out what residents can expect from our service and we hope it will further improve residents’ satisfaction with it.”

The ten pledges councils make in the commitment include promises to provide regular and reliable collections, to collect as many materials for recycling as possible, to tell householders in good time about changes to the service, and responding to complaints.

For more information on the town’s collection services, go to: www.southend.gov.uk/recycling, or call 01702 215006.

More information on the commitment can be found at www.wrap.org.uk/lacommitment.