‘Where is my taxpayer money going?’ Locals fume as council slash bin collections to once every three weeks

Flintshire Council initially proposed introducing monthly collections but this was met with much resistance, including a petition totalling almost 3,000 signatures calling for the plans to be dropped.

Locals feared that the reduction in services would result in an increase of fly-tipping and vermin sightings, and while a compromise was reached at three weeks, many still fear that overflowing bins will cause huge problems.

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Flintshire Council initially proposed introducing monthly collections

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One resident said online: “We already recycle everything we can and still have a full bin at the end of the two weeks, what are we meant to do then? Don’t come scratching your heads wondering why fly tipping has increased – it’s a joke.”

Another joked: “That will be great, bring on summer. Three weeks of the black bin sitting there festering.”

A third user said: “Good luck with the extra work you’re creating yourself sending the council to collect fly tipping because people can’t keep three weeks worth of rubbish in one farty little bin which holds 3 full bags, yet if the lids open slightly they throw a sticker threatening to fine you!”

According to the council, its analysis of black bin waste showed that around 58 per cent of it could be recycled.

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The switch, which the local authority hopes will boost recycling rares, will go ahead on April 28

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If this happened, then residents would “free up space” in the black bins for non-recyclable waste.

However, some residents questioned why services had to be slashed when council tax was going up.

Another said: “I expect a reduction in council tax then. This is an absolute joke.”

A second account chimed in: “Please can you justify what exactly we pay £305 a month for? Our council tax increases every year, yet the level of service we receive is most definitely not! Surely the less service that we are receiving should actually see a decrease in the amount of council tax we pay? Where is the money going?”

The three-week plan is estimated to lift recycling rates to 66 per cent and save approximately £650,000.

However, the county will still likely fall short of 70 per cent, the statutory target set by the Welsh Government.

New data released last week revealed that as many as one in 10 councils across the UK are considering reducing one or more of their bin collection services.

A new Freedom of Information request has revealed that around five million Britons are at risk of having their waste collected far less frequently, while eight million could experience some type of change to their collection schedule.