GOOD progress is being made with the recycling and rubbish collection service in Weymouth and Portland.

While some collections are still being missed, complaints are being made and the service is likely to go over budget, there has been ‘considerable improvement’ compared to last year, according to a report on the Dorset Waste Partnership.

In fact for the latest quarter October-December 2015, there were more missed collections in West Dorset (1,660) than in Weymouth and Portland (1,517).

Complaints are being made about different aspects of the service – 23 for the latest quarter – but they have reduced dramatically, down from 71.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s Management Committee asked for an update on DWP performance following problems and a barrage of complaints when the service was rolled out in 2014. The DWP was also £2.8m over budget in 2014/15. The service was branded a ‘mess’ and it led to some councillors suggesting the borough council should pull out of the union.

The DWP is a partnership of local authorities which provides rubbish and recycling collections, recycling centres and more.

A report to next Tuesday's management committee gives an opportunity to assess progress that has been made in improving services.

It shows the borough is performing better than its neighbours in the amount of household waste collected per head of population and per household.

However the recycling rate has remained fairly static, which the report says may demonstrate the previous recycling scheme in the borough was effective. But it says the borough council joining the DWP has benefited Dorset recycling rates as a whole.

There continues to be a reduction in waste being sent to landfill and the figure for the third quarter is just over the target of 20 per cent.

Things are also improving financially – however there is still likely to be a budget overspend for 2015/16. But it has reduced from earlier in the year, down to a predicted £356,000.

A ‘clean streets’ campaign was launched by the borough council last year and the committee will be told a programme of gum removal by hot washing pavements in the town centre has been taking place.

The council’s environment and sustainability spokesman Cllr Ian Roebuck said: “Things are improving and we will continue to work to improve things even more.

"The people on the ground have been working very hard to get it right and they deserve credit."

Cllr Roebuck added: “We are paying less per household for the service now and we are among the top level of authorities for waste collection."