Weekly Bin Collections Under Threat
Councils told to consider fortnightly collections, report claims
Hammersmith and Fulham Council say they have no plans to introduce fortnightly bin collections, despite a report claiming the Audit Commission was pushing councils to do so.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the local authority spending watchdog had issued guidance to all local councils telling them to end weekly bin collections – and threatening them with poor inspection reports if they failed to show that they had considered fortnightly collections.
But an H&F Council spokesperson told us: “We are not moving to fortnightly collections. In fact we recently introduced twice-weekly collections in some parts of the borough, from February 1st. Everyone in the borough receives a weekly collection.”
The Audit Commission has also been accused by the Conservatives of “forcing and cajoling” councils into scrapping weekly bin collections in a bid to save money, according to the Local Government Chronicle.
However, the Audit Commission denied having issued any such guidance: “We haven't issued formal guidance that Councils must introduce fortnightly bins collections,” a spokesperson said.
“The Audit Commission looks for good examples of councils and their partners saving money, and highlights them for others to learn from. However, while fortnightly collection might work for some it won't be the answer for everyone. Councils are looking at how to recycle more waste and reduce landfill, so the situation is not a simple one of everything weekly or everything fortnightly.
“In some circumstances alternate weekly collection can be a good
solution, especially for waste that doesn't rot or attract vermin. For example some councils have introduced arrangements to separate waste and
collect compostible food materials weekly (in a special, lockable small bin) and run an alternative fortnightly collection of recyclable
paper/plastic (in a blue top bin) and non-recyclable waste (in an
ordinary bin).
“Each council has to consider their own circumstances carefully, and we
will expect them to take account of all relevant information - including
residents' views, the need to reduce landfill and costs - in making their decisions.”
The Campaign For Weekly Waste Collection says an increasing number of councils around the country have either already introduced, or are planning to introduce, alternate waste collections, with general waste being collected one week and recycling the next. “We believe our climate demands a weekly collection. In summer months, residents are having to endure unpleasant odours from their bin contents, besides discovery of maggots amongst the waste,” the group says.
24 February 2010
