Residents reject council’s waste collection plans

Thousands of local residents have opposed Cheshire East’s plan to reduce collections of household waste.

Residents were recently consulted on a proposal to collect black bins every three weeks rather than every fortnight.

It is part of the cash-strapped council’s plans to stave of bankruptcy by makin savings of £91 million over the next four years.

A report into the public consultation, published by the council, states that 84% of the 6,257 people who responded had objected to the idea.

It went on to say that many people said they already struggled with the current fortnightly arrangement and were concerned the proposal would “lead to an increase in vermin, pests and smells” due to overflowing bins.

“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 [household waste recycling centre] sites and the introduction of the booking system at the weekend,” the report added.

Other concerns also referred to the potential impact on particular groups, including large families, elderly people, rural communities and people in terraced housing with little outdoor space.

Cheshire East Council said the proposal was the only way it could fund its legal requirement to introduce weekly food waste pick-ups by April 2026.

It estimated that the weekly food collections would cost the authority an extra £1.5m.

The proposal came after the council permanently closed household waste and recycling sites in Bollington, Poynton and Middlewich in August to “ensure essential cost savings can be made”.