Early bin rounds to be launched in Walsall
Rubbish collections are being brought forward by 30 minutes in a Black Country borough in days - despite fears it will mean more bin thefts and vandalism.
Walsall Council says it wants to avoid the early morning rush on main routes and is asking residents to have their bins ready for collection at 7am.
The new rules come into force over the next week.
Householders face an £18.50 replacement charge for a bin and the authority insists the new procedure, which is to be introduced from November 29, is only half an hour earlier.
Blakenall councillor Pete Smith has voiced his concerns over the changes and said there was a greater risk of bins being stolen. But council chiefs have ploughed ahead.
Councillor Mohammed Arif, portfolio holder for the environment at Walsall Council, said: "We regularly review our collections schedule to see if there are ways in which we can make the service we provide more efficient.
"These changes are to allow the crews to collect from the busiest routes as early as possible to minimise disruption during the rush hour. The crews will obviously not be in every street or road at 7am but to assist us with the changes we would now ask residents to work with us and ensure their bins are ready for collection by this time."
The collection of brown garden waste bins is also being suspended from the end of this month as winter kicks in.
