AFTER numerous complaints about non-collection of blue bins in the Appleton and Stockton Heath areas of Warrington, the borough council has moved to provide clarity on what the bins can be used for.
Local residents and Lib Dem councillors called on the Council to be clearer about what cannot be recycled in a blue bin after dozens of bins were left uncollected in recent weeks.
Stickers placed on ‘contaminated’ bins say what can be recycled but are not explicit about what is forbidden.
Cllr Ian Marks (Lib Dem) said: “From talking to the blue bin man who emptied my bin yesterday, I understand that they are under strict instructions to refuse to empty contaminated bins. They open the top and if they see material like crisp packets and polythene bags, they slap a sticker on the bin. I have had complaints from residents asking why their bins have not been emptied. I have been walking round looking inside bins with stickers and I can see what the problem is. I understand why this policy is being put into effect because anything that improves the Council’s recycling rate is welcome.
“However, I strongly believe there needs to be much more clarity about the policy otherwise there will be big problems. We need another sticker that explicitly states what common items that are not acceptable in blue bins. As well as crisp packets, confectionary wrappers, polythene bags, gloves worn by carers and polystyrene there will be other items which the bin-men will know about. There is also confusion about whether black plastic food containers should go in a blue bin or not.
“I have written to the Council asking them to produce another sticker as a matter of urgency to give clarity to the public.”
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “Blue bins that contain items that we do not accept are left unemptied and stickered.
“Unfortunately, the amount of incorrect items in blue bins in Warrington has increased over the last 18 months. We are working with our contractor to make sure that we reduce contamination rates, which has resulted in some bins not being collected recently. We want to remind residents that items we can accept in blue bins are:
Glass bottles and jars
Food and drinks cans
Plastic bottles
Plastic food tubs eg margarine tubs, yogurt pots
Drink cartons
Paper and cardboard
“Other items containing plastic and other materials may be recycled elsewhere. For example, plastic bags, wrappers and crisp packets can’t go into blue bins, but they can be recycled in-store at most supermarkets.
Our crews only sticker blue bins that contain items that we do not accept, so if a blue bin has not been emptied and it has a red sticker on, please remove any items that are not listed on the sticker.”
For more information and a full list of what you can and can’t put into your blue bin, please visit warrington.gov.uk/blue-bin
2 Comments
I doubt very much that there has been an increase and more like a policy change and poor communication as its unlikely large parts of Warrington have just randomly decided all at the same time to put incorrect items in the blue bin. Abit of common sense goes along way….if your not taking the bin write the items name on a sticker. If a bin isn’t collected because a passer by puts a crisp packet in the blue bin then take it out!
We all know the need for recycling, but it’s the way WBC went about this. At no time has WBC educated and informed us as to what can and cannot be recycled, as far as I can remember. In their responses they refer to the website. That’s not good enough. How many people think “oh its blue bin day so I’d better log onto the website to check” None I bet, and not everyone has internet access. What WBC should have done and need to do is address the problem. Firstly apologise to its residents. Then produce a leaflet explaining why recycle and what is acceptable. Inform us first before you just carry out an edict that has upset and antagonised hundreds of tax paying residents. Then when we get it wrong, they have every right to not take the bin. In 16 years living in the borough, not once has the blue bin not been emptied. The reason ours was not having a response was because there was one Heinz baked bean snap pot with the plastic peel back lid attached and a small amount of sauce present. But, adding to this, having checked how many people actually realise that these pots currently are not recyclable…I wouldn’t be surprised if WBC weren’t aware of this either.
So come on WBC, help us to help you. Rather than lend oodles of money to a billionaire owner of a failing company and investing millions into failing businesses generally and sponsoring internships at Strathclyde University invest in your own residents and tax payers.