“Software problems” have been blamed for the numerous missed collections that have hit the new waste collection schedule.

The claim was made by Epping Forest District Council, which had previously blamed other issues such as “crews learning new routes” despite Biffa crews carrying out collections since November last year.

The council has now apologised after the new four-day schedule started last Tuesday (May 12).

People have complained about issues such as fly-tipped waste including used nappies and sanitary towels being left on the ground, and complaints being ignored.

In an online statement titled “Working with residents on waste and recycling”, a council spokesman said: “One of the benefits of the new vehicles is satellite tracking and 360-degree CCTV cameras.

“We therefore know where the new vehicles are at any given time and we can review the video footage to check missed collections with Biffa.

“Where the crews have missed properly presented refuse and recycling, we ask Biffa to go back.”

Despite this, some people claim their waste has now been left uncollected for nine days.

Robin Hopes, 58, of Manor Road in High Beech, said: “As a result of the rubbish not being picked it has been distributed throughout the forest by foxes and has made the forest into a rubbish tip, not what visitors to the forest expect.”

Epping Forest Guardian:

Uncollected rubbish was strewn around the forest in High Beech

He added: “I am sure if I took all my rubbish and put it on their door stop it would be picked up pretty quickly.

“There are worse problems in life, but it is very annoying.

“We need to know what went wrong, bearing in mind a lot of people did hard work so I think a rebate on council tax would go some way to compensate.”

The council claimed the new high-tech vehicles, part of a £50million contract with Biffa, could not crush rubbish while moving when they were introduced last week, leading to the delays.

Epping Forest Guardian:

One of the council's new high-tech vehicles

This does not explain why complaints have not been followed up, Mr Hopes said.

He said: “That is not a software problem, it is a dire operational issue that they have not been able to solve.

“It annoys me because you cannot get an honest answer from them… they have handled it very badly.”

In an online video, councillor Will Breare-Hall claimed the trucks will bring benefits such as reduced emissions to Epping Forest.

He said: “Where we have made mistakes or fallen foul of the new technology I can only apologise to residents for the inconvenience and thank everyone for continuing to work with us.”