Angry residents have hit out at bin men who leave recycling boxes strewn all over the pavement.
The neighbours in Ebberns Road, Hemel Hempstead, say they are sick of seeing their plastic containers left in a mess.
And the residents are also asking why complaints made over the issue in the past fell on deaf ears at the council.
Ebberns R
oad home owner Mark Simpson said: "The refuse and recycling in our road is a joke.
"We have all lost boxes due to them not being put back where they come from.
"It's about time somebody taught these refuse 'operatives' how to behave – the children in Ebberns could give them a few lessons."
Mr Simpson also said residents in Ebberns Road took part in a council survey last year in which the problem with plastic boxes was raised.
He said however, that there was no improvement in the way bin men left the containers after collections.
"I wonder who paid for the survey, and more importantly, who pays for the replacement bins?" he said.
A spokesman for the council said: "We aim to ensure that bins and recycling boxes are returned to the same place they are collected from.
"It is clear on this occasion that this hasn't happened.
"We apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused, and will ensure that the situation improves for the next collection."
