‘Unworkable’ replacement bin charges officially scrapped as council cabinet signs off on new policy

‘Unworkable’ charges for replacement bins have officially been scrapped after the council cabinet signed off on a new policy which will come into force in the borough from next week.

Residents had been paying £20 for new and replacement bins – albeit with some exemptions – under arrangements introduced last November.

But new council leader Neil Emmott – previously the cabinet member responsible for recycling – said he had never liked the policy, claiming it had been imposed on him ‘by a higher power’.

And he told fellow cabinet members it was time to do away with the ‘unworkable’ charges once and for all.

He added: “One of the main principles why people pay council tax and one service most people see for their council tax is a refuse collection every week.

“For us to be seen to be charging for part of that service really does go against the grain of all public service, in my opinion.”

Concerns were raised by Councillor Daalat Ali about people taking advantage of the new rules, but Councillor Emmott said the council could always refuse those who are trying it on.

“I think when people want replacement bins you don’t charge them. But I think we all recognise that there are some people that play the system. 

“Fine. If they want a replacement bin and we don’t think they need a replacement bin, we are not going to charge them, we will just say ‘no, you are not having another bin’.

“Simple as that.”

 

 

He added: “But we should not be charging people for bins because there are genuine cases where bins are lost, bins are damaged, bins are sometimes burnt out by people indulging in anti-social behaviour.

“And we cannot, as a council, penalise those people because they are in a situation through no fault of their own.”

People hoarding more wheelie bins than they are entitled to could be dealt with by crews while out on their rounds, he added.

The policy was also welcomed by Councillor Daniel Meredith, who said it would stop residents from being ripped off by unlicensed fly-tippers.

He said: “This is a really good step to make sure people in our borough can get bins when they need them – and not pay these idiots going round with white vans, taking £30 off them and then actually fly-tipping it and the responsibility going back to them [the resident] and they are going through that turmoil.”

The charges introduced in November led to a 42% drop in the number of wheelie bins being replaced, with the council noting more residents taking a ‘responsible’ approach to recycling.

The charges for replacement bins did not generate anywhere near the amount of cash expected, while remaining deeply unpopular with residents and many councillors.

The council now expects demand to revert to ‘original levels’ (15,750 bins a year) as a result of scrapping the charges, costing the council more money than is currently budgeted for.

It means £165k will be transferred from the council’s ‘budget pressure fund’ to offset the removal of bin charges during this financial year.

The new policy will come into force when the ‘call in’ period expires five days after the decision being made.

Rochdale council cabinet met on Tuesday 31 August at Number One Riverside.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter