Bin wagon driver Paul Strickland has been charged with stealing thousands of rolls of biodegradable food waste bags.

An investigation by the council’s internal audit team discovered that 8,200 rolls of bags had disappeared, containing more than 1.5m individual bags.

It is alleged that Strickland, from Worsley, sold the rolls on and made more than £11,500, selling them at around 1.40p a roll.

He is due to appear at Salford Magistrates' Court next week, charged with theft.

The eco-friendly waste bags are provided for residents to use in food recycling caddies, collected every week.

Every refuse vehicle in Salford has a supply on board to distribute as residents need them.

Salford is one of only a few council’s across the country which supply the bags free in a bid to maximise recycling.

Strickland faces one charge of theft that between December 2014 and May 2015, he stole 8,225 rolls of bin liners at a cost to the council of £5,551.

(Image: PA)

Salford council plans in future to stamp all food bags with its own logo.

A spokeswoman said: “The matter is now in the hands of the police.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman told the M.E.N: “A man has been charged after a theft in Salford.

“Paul Strickland, 30, of Bolton Road, Worsley, has been charged with theft by an employee.

“On 29 June 2015, police received a report that a significant number of compost waste bags had been stolen from an organisation in Weaste, Salford.”

He has been bailed to appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ court on Wednesday, August 12, 2015.