Councillor Brett Owen told a council meeting last Monday there had been numerous complaints after the November/December collection about the untidy state of townships, particularly Pakenham, in the lead-up to Christmas.

Under the present system, Pakenham is divided into four zones with collections each week during December.

Cr Owen said the council needed to reassess the timing of the collection. "It is unfortunate with the current system because, for four out of five weeks, Pakenham has hard rubbish.

"I have had residents complain about having collections at Christmas time because it makes the streets very untidy.

"I note that Casey Council is having hard waste collections now - after Christmas -which I think is a much better time of the year."

Cr Collin Ross agreed that the hard rubbish collection system could be improved.

He said many people drove past an area with hard rubbish out the front and then thought they had to put their rubbish out when in fact, their collection may still be weeks away.

Cardinia Shire council conducts twice-a-year hard waste and green waste collections. Collections will run again in May and June.