Local businesses in Aberystwyth are urging the county council to start finding the offenders and fining them, as the “never-ending” problem of rubbish in the town continues.

David Gilbert, owner of David Gilbert Jewellery, took a photo of Market Hall on 8 June, showing a mountain of black bin bags and recycling bags left by residents, on a lowered curb.

He said they remained there until 4.30pm and chicken bones were left in one of the recycling bags, enticing seagulls.

David contacted the council about the issue on 8 June, and says he was informed it “could be a backlog from bank holiday and from students leaving”.

But David, who is also chair of the Aberystwyth Market Hall Traders Association, said this is not an isolated incident.

He said: “This happens every year. This is not a new phenomenon – that bank holidays happen or students leave. They should have been prepared for that.”

Rhian Healy manages her father’s company, Morris Brothers, on Portland Road, and said while it is a consistent issue, it’s “ten times worse” when the students are here.

She said: “It is worse when the students are here because many students put their bins out in the evening instead of the morning. And they don’t recycle properly.

“But obviously all the seagulls are attacking the bins, whatever is in there, because they think food might be in there. I can’t even tell you the number of times I have to pick up used condoms, sanitary towels, or tampons. You shouldn’t have to do that. If, as a business, we put out our bins and left them like that, we would get in trouble and we would be fined straight away.”

Ceredigion County Council said measures are in place, including earlier collections, provision of wheelie bins, heavy duty sacks, free caddies, caddy liners for food waste and boxes for glass, which have had a “positive overall impact” on the cleanliness of the town.

The council noted “some localised, seasonal or occasional issues”, adding there would be no problem if everybody presented “the right waste on the right day and in the right way”.

Rhian said waste collection is due on Tuesday mornings, but this is sometimes delayed to later in the day. Despite phoning the council “many times” and sending photos every Tuesday, Rhian states she is yet to have an adequate response.

Rhian added: “How can they state on their website, you’ll get fined? Obviously they’re not getting fined because they’re still doing it.”

David said the issue stems from a “combination” of factors.

He listed the issues as: “Selfish people putting food in recycling bags which is just wrong, people putting bags out at the wrong time of day, although I realise the refuse truck can’t be at every property at the same time; people dumping rubbish outside other people’s front door, i.e. the market hall.

“And the council not being prepared for bank holidays and students departing.”