Waste in St Albans might not be recycled if the dump does not have the correct bins available.

Owner of Hatfield Road vegan cafe The Green Kitchen, Heather Foster, visited St Albans Household Waste Recycling Centre on Ronsons Way this week and was shocked to be told all recyclables would be going into general waste.

It includes rigid plastic, wood, cardboard, garden waste, and food.

She was told the decision was made because the correct bins were not available on that day.

The 54-year-old described the tip as one of the most depressing places in St Albans: “Stuff is thrown away rather than recycled and I think it could be done better. It’s all half-hearted.

“It’s a temporary problem that they don’t have the right container, but surely they should be able to sort that out.

“I just think with so much emphasis on recycling, the environment, and about plastic in the ocean, it’s a big wider problem.

“I understand it’s not easy but it needs a bit more effort or joined up thinking and communication.”

The Ronsons Way centre is run by Amey, a contractor of Herts county council.

The same centre came under fire in 2014 after money saving tactics saw midweek closures.

A spokesperson for Herts county council said: “During extremely busy periods the containers for some materials can become full when awaiting collection and disposal.

“When this is the case, rather than refuse to accept the material, residents are presented with an option to dispose in the general waste stream or it is suggested they use alternate facilities such as visiting another waste recycling centre or using recycling banks at supermarkets for appropriate materials.”

She stressed more than 65 per cent of waste taken to dumps around the county is sent for recycling, and much of the remaining general waste is sent to treatment facilities to be converted into electricity.

Authorities around Hertfordshire are leading a campaign to encourage residents to dispose of waste responsibly. The Hertfordshire Fly-tipping Group is a collaboration between St Albans district council, Herts police, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Environment Agency, the National Farmers Union, charity Keep Britain Tidy, and Herts county council.

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