RUBBISH firm chiefs have vowed to sort out their service after refuse collections in the Chiltern district reached crisis point earlier this year.

Bags full of household waste were left rotting on streets for days over the new year when the service stopped functioning properly.

The firm responsible, Onyx, blamed staff sickness, vehicle breakdown and bad weather for the problems but Chiltern District Council claimed it was "a complete failure of management".

On Tuesday Keith Riley, the newly appointed managing director of Onyx Greater London and the South, attended a crunch meeting of the council's environmental services to discuss plans to improve the service.

Mr Riley admitted the service had not been as good as it should have been and announced the appointment of a new contract manager for the area, as well as a major overhaul of the firm's management structure.

Chiltern district councillor Bernard Curson (Con, Chalfont St Giles) said after the meeting that Mr Riley had renewed his confidence in Onyx to some extent.

Cllr Curson explained: "During the Christmas period, when the weather was bad, I have never seen my village in such a dirty state. It was filthy. But I think Onyx are getting their act together now."

During the worst of the waste collection crisis, council officers were inundated with complaints from householders whose rubbish had not been collected.

Mr Riley said in a statement to the Free Press yesterday: "The councillors understandably aired their concerns about the recent problems with the refuse collection and street cleansing service in the Chiltern district, especially around the Christmas period.

"Since the end of last year, Onyx has reorganised its management structure to enable us to manage at local level."

He added: "As part of our improvement programme, we held a training day for our Chiltern workforce. Giving up a Saturday to come to the training course reflects the dedication and motivation of the workforce in the Chilterns."