Residents kick up a stink over refuse collections (From This Is Cheshire)

Residents kick up a stink over refuse collections

7:20am Friday 25th July 2008

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RESIDENTS are ranting over rubbish collections after having to wait two weeks for their bins to be emptied.

Homeowners across the town have been left with festering waste because of a two-day strike last week which saw bin men join fellow council workers in a dispute over pay.

“They have not told us anything. There has been no sticker put on the bin. It has cost me a phone call because I have had to call up to find out.”

Gary Wright, from Chiltern Crescent, Orford

Gary Wright, from Chiltern Crescent, Orford, is one of those having to wait a fortnight for his rubbish to be collected.

He said: “If they want to strike that is fine, we are all entitled to that. But it is a service you’re paying for which we should be entitled to.

“We have already paid for that service, it is like being robbed.”

The strike action saw members of Unison and Unite walk out in a row over a 2.45 per cent pay rise offered to them by the Government.

As well as refuse collections being stopped some schools had to close and community centres and libraries also shut up shop for the duration of the industrial action.

Warrington Borough Council have advised those who did not get their bins collected last week that they can leave an extra three bags of rubbish out this week.

But Mr Wright said that three bags were not sufficient to hold all of his waste for the second week.

“My bin is full already so now I have had to start going to the tip,” he added.

“I feel let down. We pay our money every year for their service.”

He also complained about being kept in the dark over the non-collection of the bins.

The council only released details of the alternative arrangements for refuse collections on Wednesday – the first day of the strike, by updating their website.

“They have not told us anything. There has been no sticker put on the bin. It has cost me a phone call because I have had to call up to find out.”

Paula Darlington, head of service for environment services, said: “We do appreciate the disruption caused to residents during the national industrial action on 16 and 17 July.

“However, we do allow households to put out an extra three bin bags, which is the equivalent to a standard wheeled bin, for the following week’s collection.

All our community recycling centre and bring sites wereopen as normal during the industrial action.

“If any residents need help in reducing the amount of rubbish they are putting into their black refuse bins, we can offer plenty of advice on recycling which directly reduces the amount of rubbish in your bin.”

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