Bristol Live readers are interested to hear that Labour has initiated a petition against Bristol City Council’s plans to reduce black bin collections to once a month. The opposition group has already gathered over 1,000 signatures in just a week since the petition was launched online.
Last week, a leaked document obtained by BristolLive revealed the proposal to decrease kerbside collections for general waste from two to three or even four weeks. Significant changes are also on the cards for household recycling rubbish, which could be collected “less frequently than weekly” if an option for just one wheelie bin for all reusable materials is supported by residents in an upcoming public consultation.
The council maintains that no changes will be implemented until all feedback has been taken into account. Speaking to the LDRS, Labour group leader Cllr Tom Renhard, who initiated the petition, described the proposals as a potential “disaster”.
He stated: “A monthly black bin collection would cause many problems for local residents across Bristol, especially large families and parents with young children. The Greens need to withdraw this ill-thought out proposal and reassure Bristolians that it won’t go ahead.”
South Gloucestershire Council recently approved plans to reduce its black bin collections to every three weeks, having also considered but rejected a four-weekly schedule. Cllr Renhard’s petition can be found here: Say no to monthly bin collections in Bristol
Commenter Stnick says: “Come on, Bristol get behind it! Let’s get signing because all they’re gonna do is try and cut your bin collections back and still charge you more on your council tax. They will still make it very difficult to go to your recycling centres as it doesn’t suit everybody’s needs the way you have to book!”
6470 thinks: “The Labour Party makes me laugh, part of the problem is the councillors voted for everything the Mayor put forward. Some of the problems the council are in came from this time, but no one has put their hand up and apologised for letting the council get in this state. Until this happens the public will never trust the city council.”
Brizzlebabber agrees: “It was Labour who assured us that the route changes would improve bin collections. Well there’s a surprise, it got worse.”
BS8GR8 adds: “Absolutely. This petition is pure opportunism by Labour, they were in charge of the council when Bristol Waste went all wrong. Also blew millions on vanity projects and left our council housing in massive disrepair. Doubt we will end up with monthly collections but every 3 weeks like South Glous seems inevitable.”
Bs3bob thinks: “It’s easy. Fine those who don’t recycle. It’s not difficult to spot them. And I’m not talking about being over zealous and fining people for a yoghurt pot in the wrong bin, but plenty of households barely put out any recycling.”
RIPD believes: “You can see the end result coming a mile away. They’ll back down on 4 weeks and “compromise” at 3 weeks. Which was their real plan all along.”
Junius1 points out: “Be pragmatic about the viability of a four-week policy. Nothing will be done until the results of the consultation are known, so it’s best to make views clear in the consultation.”
Carl Hartrey says: “And they wonder why the fly tipping is on the increase.”
Steven Draper is horrified: “Oh hell no, doing it fortnightly has already caused a rat infestation.”
Bs3bob agrees: “I’m fuming mate. The quality of public servants in Bristol is appalling.”
Ohthisagain adds: “Essential services are getting cut but you have to admit that the opulent gilding in the Bristol Beacon is really quite something.”
Will you be signing the petition against 4 weekly collections? Have your say in our comments section.