Council taxpayers will fund 12 new binmen to sort recycling at the roadside - because residents have not done the job well enough.

That is the view of Medway Council's cabinet, which has approved almost £150,000 for new staff and a new bin lorry for waste firm Veolia.

A report said residents "misuse reusable recycling bags" and "are not separating anywhere near the amount of paper we need them to", which costs hundreds of thousands of pounds in processing further down the chain.

The council introduced a new method for residents to recycle last autumn, bringing in structured blue bags for paper and card, white bags for bottles and plastics with clear plastic bags for additional recycling.

Officials had considered leaving unseparated bags by the roadside, but admitted the move would be "unpopular".

Now they say despite hiring extra staff, they can still cut the Towns' waste bill, because of reduced costs at the depot.

The waste bill was set to soar by £1.5 million by 2013, but new figures claim it will be just £500,000 over budget.

Officials dismissed claims rubbish will blow all over the streets, saying: "Veolia will ensure any litter will be cleared."