Residents rubbish council’s bin plans

Cheshire East residents have firmly rejected plans to introduce three-weekly black bin collections.

The council maintains collecting household waste bins every three weeks instead of fortnightly was the only way it can achieve its legal requirement to introduce weekly food waste pick-ups by April 2026.

Cheshire East estimates the weekly food collections will cost an extra £1.5m a year. But 84% of the 6,257 people responding to the consultation, voiced opposition to three-weekly black bin collections.

A report summarising the responses to the consultation states: “Many respondents stated that they already struggle with a two-weekly collection and were concerned that a move to three-weekly black bin collections would lead to an increase in vermin, pests and smells due to overflowing bins and certain waste products being left within the bins for a longer period.

“An increase in fly-tipping and contamination of other bins were also raised as concerns, especially since the recent closure of some of the local HWRC sites [tips] and the introduction of the booking system at the weekend.”

There were also concerns the change would impact some people more than others including:

• larger families, those with younger children, those with medical needs / disabilities and those with pets;
• elderly residents and those with certain disabilities, due to a more complicated waste schedule and heavier bins which could lead to missed bin collections;
• residents who had opted for a smaller bin would have to pay for a standard / larger bin which is seen as unfair;
• those in rural areas due to an increased possibility of vermin, fly-tipping in these areas and difficulty for the waste trucks accessing properties which leads to missed bin collections;
• those in terraced housing / housing with little outdoor space – some areas do not have wheelie bins and instead will have an increase in the amount of black bin bags cluttering up the area;
• those in communal properties such as flats and houses of multiple occupancy.

Residents also rejected the council’s suggestion of investing in additional waste educational specialists, enforcement officers and adopting wider enforcement powers to clean up any issues which may arise from the reduction in collections.

Over 69% disapproved the draconian approach, saying they would rather see the funds spent on waste collection.

Just 13% of respondents were in favour of the change to three-weekly collections, believing it would see increased recycling rates and it makes sense as the most cost-effective option.

The full document can be found on the consultation results page on Cheshire East Council’s website HERE.