A significant number of residents in England, totaling over two million individuals, are facing a delay of one week in the collection of their household waste bins, according to recent reports.
In an effort to streamline waste management operations, a considerable area of the country will now have non-recyclable waste collected every three weeks. This change has raised concerns among residents regarding potential issues such as fly-tipping and increased rodent activity, as exemplified in Birmingham during an ongoing refuse collectors’ strike this year.
The community of Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire is directly impacted by this alteration, with households now having up to four wheelie bins. One resident, Jessica Parker, expressed worry that her overflowing bins are attracting swarms of flies, hindering her toddler from playing outdoors.
Voicing his discontent, Peter Redwood, a retired builder from Bishop’s Stortford, criticized the decision, stating that limited outdoor space makes it challenging for some residents to manage the excess bins, resulting in a cluttered town and potential pest issues like rat infestations.
Several local authorities are opting to raise council tax rates to the maximum allowable this year. While many councils argue that this adjustment will benefit the environment, emphasizing the scheduled collection of food waste weekly, recyclables fortnightly, and residual waste every three weeks.
Among the regions affected by this change are various councils in Berkshire, Essex, Sussex, Suffolk, Cheshire, and Lancashire. However, there has been substantial opposition at the local level, with a significant percentage of residents in Cheshire East expressing dissent towards the new waste collection scheme despite the council stating it is necessary.
In a similar move last year, Bristol City Council initially proposed emptying black bins every four weeks, a plan that was eventually retracted following public backlash.
Despite opposition, some councils are moving forward with the revised waste collection plans, such as North Herts Council, which operates without a dominant political party following the Tories’ loss in 2019. Amy Allen, the council’s executive member for the environment, reported positive feedback from residents who found more space in their general waste bins due to the three-weekly collection schedule.
South Gloucestershire Council highlighted that half of its households do not fill their refuse bins every two weeks, indicating that the changes will promote cost savings, reduce carbon emissions from collections, and encourage increased recycling efforts among residents.
Paul Hart, responsible for environmental services at Lancaster City Council, emphasized that weekly food waste collections would create more space in grey bins for the three-weekly waste collection schedule.
Mid Suffolk District Council stated that the revised waste collection system aligns with new government regulations, aiming to enhance environmental sustainability. Special support will be provided to larger households or those with specific medical requirements.
Braintree District Council revealed that a significant portion of waste in residual bins could be recycled, underscoring the need for increased recycling efforts among residents.
<
