Local Conservatives on Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) have challenged the ruling Labour administration to rule out changes to residual waste collections, otherwise known as ‘black bin collections’, in light of changes being proposed by neighbouring local authorities such as Cheshire East. The reply received from CWaC is somewhat ambiguous.
In a question posed to the full meeting of CWaC on Thursday 18th July 2024, Shadow Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Simon Eardley, asked: “Will the Cabinet member for Environment rule out any reduction of the residual ‘black bin’ waste collection service to once every three weeks as appears to be being considered in neighbouring Cheshire East at present?”
The answer he received, which is published below, did not specifically rule out such a change, rather stating that, ‘we do not have plans.’ The full reply as follows: “A number of local authorities across the country are considering three weekly collections. As part of the previous central government ‘simpler recycling’ the recommendation was for local authorities to maintain fortnightly residual collections. Currently we do not have plans for 3 weekly collections as we have just rolled out our new waste strategy.”
Commenting, Cllr Simon Eardley said:
“We know there are plans in Cheshire East Council to move to a three weekly black bin collection and a consultation there includes that as the only recommendation, despite officers identifying three other options, two of which included keeping fortnightly collections. Here in Cheshire West and Chester, when it comes to waste issues, Labour’s track record is often to creep changes through the back door just as they did with the recent increase in the green waste charge from £40 to £50 per bin, per annum. They could have reassured residents with a clear and simple answer to the question I posed by ruling out a move to three weekly collections. Their reply is carefully worded – ‘currently no plans’ leaves the door open!
“Many residents in my Saughall and Mollington Ward are already concerned about proposals being put forward in our own CWaC consultation on changes to the Household Waste and Recycling Centre service, including the introduction of charges in certain circumstances for the disposal of DIY waste. Flytipping, in the country lanes of the villages I represent, is already a major problem. Putting barriers in the way of residents to access simple services or reducing the service in the way Cheshire East are looking to do, is likely to increase the blight of waste being dumped in the countryside. I urge the Cabinet Member for Environment to come back to me with a further, unambiguous clarification that rules out any reduction in the black bin collection service.”
