A PURFLEET woman has spoken of her anger at Thurrock Council who refuse to collect her pet guinea pig’s waste.

Veronica Woollard was irate when council bin men suddenly started refusing to take away her pet's waste.

She phoned the Council only to be told that they could not accept it as it might be toxic. She argued that as her pets only eat straw and vegetables the waste was perfect for composting.

However, the council maintain that they cannot not take it and suggested Mrs Woollard gets a compost bin instead.

She said: “It’s ridiculous, I don’t have room for another bin. What am I supposed to do with the bags and bags of waste each week now?” It seems such a waste, it could be turned into fertiliser, I’m so angry.”

Thurrock Council spokesperson Andy Lever said: “We are required by law to follow our contractors’ guidelines for what can and cannot be accepted in both refuse and recycling collections.

“The legislative guidelines regarding pet waste are unclear and, until recently, it appeared that waste material from vegetarian pets such as rabbits could be put into the garden waste collections, where it would be taken away for composting.

“However we are now advised that the composting plant, which processes the garden waste, cannot accept any type of pet waste at all.”