Bin Collection Plans In Wales Provoke Rage As Council To Limit Rubbish To Two Bags Per Fortnight

Bins Laden: Council's Plans To Limit Rubbish To Two Bags Per Fortnight
Monmouthshire council is reducing collections to two bags fortnightly
Monmouthshire council is reducing collections to two bags fortnightly
PA

Plans to limit the amount of rubbish to be collected to two sacks per fortnight have provoked anger in Wales, with over 1000 people signing a petition to prevent the two weekly limit.

Bin collections have sent emotions soaring in the Monmouthshire as the council attempts to force residents to recycle.

Whilst fortnightly collections are nothing new, limiting the number of bags allowed to two is a far more stringent measure.

Indeed even two weekly collections themselves have caused a storm in the past, with Eric Pickles insisting it was a "human right" to have rubbish taken away at least once a week.

In an oft-quoted comment piece the portly communities secretary argued in November that it was "a fundamental right for every Englishman and woman to be able to put the remnants of their chicken tikka masala in their bin without having to wait two weeks for it to be collected."

He also insisted he would tell councils to reintroduce weekly bin collections or lose funds.

At least half the homes in Britain now have general rubbish taken away only once every two weeks, but they are allowed to accrue more rubbish than the two bags proposed in Monmouthshire.

'Having your food taken away is a human right'

Council officials argue that most of what is being thrown away is food scraps and recyclables.

"Monmouthshire has said it's making a priority of education and social services, and we bluntly have got to save about £4m in this year - and we've got to find it where we can," councillor Bryan Jones told the BBC's Eye on Wales programme.

"So for us to be throwing £3m into landfill every year - it's plainly a total waste of money.

"By 2015/16 we need to increase our recycling to 58% and if we miss those targets, we have the consequences of having a fine - for every 1%, about £100,000 - so it's significant."

Close

What's Hot