25.09.18
Council controversially begins first monthly bin collection in England and Wales
Monthly bin collections have been introduced for the first time in England and Wales by Conwy County Council, despite major complaints from residents over piles of waste, rats and fly-tipping.
The North Wales council rolled out the controversial scheme on Monday following a year-long trial for its 11,000 households.
During the trial period, residents have complained about rats, seagulls and flies and some have admitted to burning their waste to cope.
By collecting waste destined for landfill just once a month, Conwy CC will save £390,000 annually, and the authority say the move is also fuelled by the need to recycle.
They say half the rubbish found in wheelie bins could be recycled, and these landfill materials have cost the community £1.6m in a year.
The council said: “We currently recycle 64% of our waste, which is really good, but we need to recycle 70% by 2024-25 to meet the Welsh Government's targets. If these targets are not achieved the council may be fined.”
Under European Union targets the UK must recycle at least half of its household waste by 2020, a figure currently at 43%, and Conwy council said the trial showed that “putting recycling at the heart of the service has really paid off” as residents are recycling more than ever.
Food waste will still be collected weekly and Conwy CC have said they will also offer a free weekly collection service for nappies and incontinence products.
Councillors voted to scrap the idea in November 2017, but monthly collections were signed off by cabinet members in January 2018.
Two Scottish councils have already moved to monthly rubbish collections – Fife and Falkirk – and 18 councils in the England and Wales have moved to three-weekly collections as local authorities try to find ways to save money and close budget deficits.
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