Wheelie bins full of waste have been left out on many streets across Kent for several days after they were not emptied last week - and some councils have advised households to take them back in.

Collections were disrupted due to the snow and waste contractors have been working hard to catch-up.

But in some areas local authorities have had to admit defeat, particularly over recyclable rubbish, and have told people to try again next week.

A frustrated Canterbury resident says streets have been left “looking like a tip” after thousands of bins across the district were missed during the cold snap.

Waste across Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay that went uncollected last week will not be picked up until the next scheduled slot in seven days.

The city council is telling residents to bring their bins back in until then – which means they could be overflowing with a month’s worth of rubbish by the time they are finally emptied.

But Dean Garbett, from Cossington Road in Canterbury, says full bins continue to be littered across his street as uncertainty reigns over when waste will be taken away.

'I’ve got recycling, which is soaking wet, that’s still on the street. I’ve received an email saying I should bring it back inside, but it’s going to get smelly...'

“Walking around the streets, you can see all the bins are out still and bins have been out on my road, in particular, for days,” the 34-year-old said.

“A mix of purple bags and recycling is out – there’s absolutely everything. It’s looking like a tip.”

Mr Garbett added: “No one knows when anything’s being collected. There’s been mass confusion.

"I’ve got recycling, which is soaking wet, that’s still on the street. I’ve received an email saying I should bring it back inside, but it’s going to get smelly.”

The city council had originally intended on carrying out catch-up collections over the second half of last week.

However, further snowfall meant it had to scrap Thursday’s rounds and just visit properties on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Local authority spokesman Rob Davies said: “If we did not get to you by then, please bring your bin from last week back in.

“All those missed this week will receive a double collection of what should have been taken, on your scheduled day during week commencing 22 February.

“If that is black bin week for you, we will accept extra black or purple sacks. If that is recycling week for you, we will accept side recycling.”

In Maidstone, bins left out last week for emptying are still on pavements.

The borough council has advised anyone whose recycling waste was due to be collected last week to put it back out next week.

A statement on its website about the disruption said: "Please take it back in and present it next week for your normal day. The crew will do a double collection and take extra next week, please put any extra materials in a cardboard box or clear sack.

"Remember to present your black waste bin, on the usual day this week."

On non-recyclable waste that was not collected last week, it says: "Please leave them presented for emptying, they are scheduled to be emptied on the same day as your recycling bin this week.

"The work will be completed by two separate crews, probably at different times of day."

There were also problems in Swale, which covers Sittingbourne, Faversham and the Isle of Sheppey, where it was also rubbish for recycling that was impacted.

Residents were advised to take their bins back in and told they would be emptied next week.

A council spokesman said: “Crews have been working hard to catch up on delayed general waste collections following last week’s snow.

“Despite this it is looking unlikely that we will be able to catch up on collections enough to start on missed recycling collections.

“We will continue to prioritise missed general waste, and general waste and recycling bins that are due for collection this week. If your recycling was due for collection last week and you have left your bins out, please take them in for now.

'We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and patience...'

“We hope to start fresh on collections next week to the regular collection schedule. If you have excess recycling next week from the missed collections this can be left next to your bin in a cardboard box or in clear sacks.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and patience.”

Meanwhile, Neighbourhood Watch reported that the lid of a wheelie bin was stolen in London Road, Sittingbourne, between 1pm and 5.20pm last Friday "presumably to make a sledge".

Anyone with information was asked to call police on 101 quoting 46/23402/21.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent