Increase in missed bin collections
New figures show an increase in the number of missed kerbside bin collections. Month-by-month statistics released under the Freedom of Information Act detail how missed collections have risen by more than six times. B&NES Council missed 4,991 collections in the first six months of this year. This compares to just 678 missed in the same period of 2017, an increase of 636 per cent. Nathen Stern, who lives in Bradford Road, Odd Down, said: “In the months prior to seeing the tweet the council had missed three out of four of our rubbish collections. “Each time they would miss a section of our road. “When I complained each time they said they would come back and collect the rubbish (as they are supposed to) but never really did. Once they came back and collected every bin missed apart from ours! “They didn’t seem to start taking it seriously until some drunk youngsters put our black bin in the middle of the road. “After we told the council this had happened they sent someone straight out to collect the rubbish and they haven’t missed a collection since.” B&NES council has been contacted for comment. On November 6, the frequency of rubbish collections in Bath was changed from weekly to fortnightly. Residents were allocated a wheeled 140-litre bin or a re-usable gull-proof bag. Recycling and food waste collections remained weekly. The changes were introduced to keep the streets cleaner, increase recycling and make the services more affordable. Less than a week after the reforms were introduced, the council said it had received more than 3,000 requests for additional recycling containers. The bin collection figures come just months after the council hailed its reformed recycling and waste collection service a success for sending thousands fewer tonnes of rubbish to landfill. An article in the summer edition of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Together magazine reads: “Compared to last year, the amount of recycling we’re collecting from your homes increased by 2,000 tonnes, while the amount being thrown away in the rubbish went down by an impressive 4,500 tonnes (between January and March 2018). “As well as being cleaner and greener, and improving our streets, this is also saving the council money on the cost of getting rid of waste - passing funds from recycling to invest in vital frontline services. “This shows how much effort many of you have made to recycle more and throw away less and we really appreciate your help and support - it makes such a difference!” The latest government statistics show British households are steadily recycling more and more. In 2010, 40.4 per cent of household waste was recycled; in 2016 this figure was 45.2 per cent.