Executive Member for the Environment, Councillor Nigel Murphy

 

Mr Stevan Whitaker, who lives in Manchester, asked the following Question:

Why are the council changing the recycling system yet again at great expense and upset. People are happy with two large wheelie bins instead of hundeds of boxes littering the street. Vehicles will be stopping and starting, using excess fuel plus blocking the street. Bins will attract flies and possibly rats. Also from experience you don't get the same clean well looked after box back. Finally who is paying for all this. Thank you.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Executive Member for Environment, replied:

Thank you for your Question regarding the recent changes to the recycling services in your neighbourhood.

Over the last six months, we have received calls from a number of residents in your neighbourhood who are concerned about the communal recycling service. Unfortunately some residents have not been using the service correctly and have been contaminating recycling bins with rubbish which means residents who want to recycle have not been able to do so. Some of the more serious concerns were about the number of communal recycling bins being set on fire.

In order to understand the views of other residents living in your neighbourhood a canvassing exercise was undertaken. The outcome of which revealed that the majority of residents had significant concerns about the communal recycling service and many residents said that they would prefer to use the recycling box and bag service.

It is for these reasons that we have decided to remove the communal recycling bins and provide residents with their own recycling box and bag. We believe it is more cost effective to provide residents with a box & bag than continue to replace burnt out communal bins. Crews are asked to ensure they return boxes and bags to the place where they are presented to prevent getting residents boxes mixed up.The new box & bag service will be closely monitored to ensure it meets the needs of residents.

I hope this explanation alleviates your concerns and provides an explanation for the reason we had to change your recycling service. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions, or call Environment on Call on 0161 954 9000.

12th July 2010

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