Anger as bins are not emptied for 10 weeks

It's a dubious title to hold, but Tipton man Trevor Hill claims to be the Sandwell resident who has gone the longest without a bin collection.

He has not had his two recycling bins emptied for 10 weeks. Bins have gone uncollected and rubbish bags have been piling up in the streets ever since refuse collectors started working to rule amid a pay dispute.

Despite ending their "unofficial go-slow" on Monday, the aftermath is still being felt. Mr Hill, of Tudor Close, said: "The whole street has gone uncollected for almost three months.

"The bins are full to the brim and to be honest we've been putting our recyclables in other people's bins, which is naughty but we've been forced into it."

The retired tool setter added:"It is appalling the bins have gone uncollected for so long. The council asks us to recycle and we spend ages sorting through it all but it's all for nothing at the moment. We are paying for a service that is not being delivered."

Councillor Derek Rowley, cabinet member for communities, said the bins, which are usually picked up every fortnight, would be collected today.

Councillor Rowley said: "I have been down to Tudor Court in person and apologised to Mr Hill. I can only apologise to all of the residents that their bins have been missed."

The Express & Star has reported over the last few weeks how residents have gone without domestic and recycling bin collections for two, three and five weeks.

Some residents have also had other people's rubbish dumped outside their homes and in their gardens.

A lengthy strike that could see even more rubbish in the streets may start before September 6 after Unite gave formal notice to the council. The GMB union is believed to have done the same but Unison is not balloting.

Binmen are threatening to walk out over introduction of single status pay scales. Taxpayers have already been forced to shell out £79,000 for agency staff and extra vehicles to clear the backlog of bin bags.