Weekly bin collections to be scrapped in bid to save £1m

Domestic waste will no longer be collected every week as council bosses said money was being wasted on emptying bins which had 'little or nothing in them' due to an increase in recycling.

The changes, which are due to come into effect from next October, have been made following a consultation process, with residents split over the plans.

Half of 4,000 people surveyed said they favoured the switch to fortnightly collections, with 35 per cent favouring alternative proposals to make the bigger garden waste bins become used for general waste.

Around 600 people were against any change to current bin collections. Residents have also complained that the grey domestic waste bins are likely to be full before they are emptied when the change to fortnightly collections come in.

But leader of the council Mike Bird said it was a logical decision with the authority needing to save money and more people recycling.

Walsall Council is expected to save £920,000 a year as a result of the changes.

Following a meeting of the council's cabinet where the changes were ratified, he said: "We have to find money to produce savings and I think the introduction of our recycling regime, which is one of the best in the country, means people are now saying to me their grey bins now have little residual waste.

"I know from my own bins and from speaking to my constituents that grey bins have little or nothing in them every week."

Large families will be provided with bigger bins to try and ensure rubbish is not overflowing from them by the time collection day comes around. Councillor Bird said: "We will be encouraging people to recycle more and correctly. If people find their grey bin is not adequate they can apply for a larger bin if they fulfil the criteria.

Labour member Councillor Dennis Anson criticised the move but blamed the change on Government cuts to local authorities rather than the Conservative-led council itself.

He said: "It is another cut isn't it. The Government cuts have hit rock bottom now.

"We have chewed threw the fat, gone through the meat and now we are going through the bone.

"Where this ends I don't know.

"It's about what people see their money is being spent on.

"They are getting less and less but are being asked to pay more.

"I know the Government had to make these cuts but for me they have done it far to soon."