First council to only collect bins monthly
Despite a disastrous trial...
THE trial led to piles of burning rubbish and complaints about vermin.
But monthly bin collections will now be the norm in Conwy, as it becomes the first council in England and Wales to extend the wait to four weeks.
In September 2016, 11,000 homes in the North Wales county were put on the pilot scheme, which will now be rolled out across the whole area by next year. Families have com- plained of increases in fly-tipping and stinking bins – but the council, governed by a Tory and independent coalition, claims the move will save £400,000 a year, and boost the level of recycling.
Labour councillor Chris Hughes, who opposed the move, said town hall bosses – who are proposing a 5 per cent increase in council tax this year – had a duty to listen to households’ concerns.
‘We’ve had a lot of complaints from residents [in the trial] and I think everyone in the whole county will be very disappointed with this decision. It’s a step too far,’ he said. ‘People will feel like they are being ask to pay more and more, while getting less and less services.
Households in Conwy have one 240-litre black wheelie bin for general waste, three green recycling boxes and a green caddy for food waste. Those with young children can also request a larger blue caddy for nappies.
All the recycling, food waste and nappy bins are collected weekly, but the black bin is currently emptied every three weeks – or every four in the trial areas.
Last month a proposal to extend the monthly pilot across the whole of Conwy was rejected. But the council cabinet yesterday performed a U-turn to vote in favour.
Local Angela Francis wrote on Twitter: ‘It hasn’t worked. Streets in Llandudno are filled with litter... bins spilled out in their last collection day, rubbish is just lingering, polluting the environment, acting as a health risk and looks appalling.’
HGV driver Lee Morris, 44, previously told the Mail he had resorted to burning his rubbish on his coal fire or dumping it in his work skip.
Conwy County council claims the amount of black bin waste going to landfill has dropped by around 31 per cent among households taking part in the trial. Council leader Gareth Jones said the move would ‘accelerate our drive’ to increase recycling and reduce waste.