Civic chiefs have approved plans to press ahead with rolling out food waste collections in the New Forest.
A New Forest District Council meeting on Monday, September 15, confirmed the rollout will go ahead despite complaints about animals rummaging through food waste bins.
The chamber heard that food waste collections during pannage, where pigs roam free in certain areas, are changing so caddies will go behind gates - at an extra cost of £150,000 to the council.
Council bosses have recruited 12 new frontline workers, with recruitment underway to boost operations and customer support. Extra measures have been funded by a £151,000 Defra grant.
Speaking on Monday night, opposition leader Councillor Malcolm Wade (Lib Dem, Dibden and Dibden Purlieu) said he wanted reassurances.
He said: "Phase one has been ill prepared, under budgeted and under resourced.
"I want our residents reassured that as phase two goes out we will not have the same problems we've had in phase one, and as phase three goes out it should be seamless."
Councillors approved six recommendations including the move to keep food waste collection caddies behind gates in certain areas during pannage.
Officers will also continue to work on a business case to extend that beyond pannage.
Phase one of the rollout included 31,000 households, with 15,000 residents included in phase two.
Councillor Geoffrey Blunden, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: "I want to thank all our residents for their support and patience as we introduce the new service - 600 tonnes of food waste have been collected so far.
"I sincerely apologise to residents who have experienced missed or delayed collections."
He added: "We're learning from phase one to strengthen the service across the district ahead of the phase two rollout, which begins October 20.
"Phase three will start after Christmas. Households will receive clear, tailored information to help them prepare."
He said it is important to get it right for residents and to keep all the animals of the New Forest safe, including donkeys, ponies and pigs.
Cllr Blunden said other improvements made include updated route assessments and route planning.
Waste collections came before cabinet on September 3 following an extraordinary full council meeting on August 28 where residents and members voiced their concerns and frustrations.
Councillor David Harrison (Lib Dem, Totton South) said it was important to have had the extraordinary meeting and to have given residents who were experiencing problems a voice.
The cabinet supported further dedicated community engagement sessions for ward councillors throughout the rollout.