BAGS used to collect food waste have been binned after complaints they were falling apart.

East Lothian Council introduced food caddy bins in spring last year as part of an initiative to increase the amount of household waste which is recycled.

However, the biodegradable liners used to collect the waste proved too flimsy for some householders and have now been ditched in favour of stronger bag.

Tom Reid, the council’s waste services manager, said feedback from customers had been taken onboard and the local authority had worked with its suppliers to create bags which, while not biodegradable, could be easily removed from the food waste when it was collected.

He said: “Our residents told us that the biodegradable liners ripped too easily and that handles would be beneficial. With this in mind we have worked closely with our liner supplier, Cromwell Polythene, and Levenseat, who treat the food waste, turning it into soil enhancer and compost.

“Together we have been able to design a clear food liner that has handles, is stronger and fits our seven-litre kitchen caddies.

“These bags will shortly be circulated to households as and when they require replacement liners and the fantastic news about these specific bags is that their specification is designed to make them easily removable from the food waste at the start of the treatment process. The liners are then used to generate energy from waste, thus avoiding landfill.”

East Lothian residents recycled 2,286 tonnes of food waste last year, in the eight months from the caddies being introduced. More than six million food liners were issued and the county saw its recycling rate go up from 42 per cent to 51.5 per cent.

Mr Reid urged people to continue to only use the food waste liners provided by the council and praised the response of the public to the new recycling bins.

“Together we are making a real difference,” he said.