Bins decision sticks

rubbish bins

SEVERAL questions during last night's meeting focused on the controversial decision to change grey bin collections to a three-weekly service, with both residents and councillors asking for clarification on the changes.

Councillor John Hudson asked if the council could look again at the decision and if the reasons behind it could be explained to residents.

Council leader Jean Stretton said: "This is not a decision we can reverse and it was was not a decision we have taken lightly or have rushed into.

"It is not about saving money, it is about increasing recycling and avoiding costs in the future."

She added that as other Greater Manchester authorities had already made the decision to reduce bin size or frequency of collection, if Oldham did not act, it could be left paying a larger share of the bill for the disposal of non-recyclable waste, an increase of £3.5million in the future.

She added that residents can apply for a larger recycling bin if they require it.

A similar response was given to a question from the public regarding if council tax would be reduced as a result of the reduction in collections.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar said that it is unlikely council tax would be reduced as the decision was not taken to save costs now, but to guard against a potential increase in levies in the future.

Shaw and Crompton Parish Councillor Paul Turner also asked how residents with clinical waste would be affected by a reduced non-recyclable waste collection scheme.

However Councillor Barbara Brownridge responded that clinical waste is currently not collected by the council and that residents should contact council officers to receive specific advice.

The topic of bin collections was also raised during a motion proposed by Lib-Dem Councillor Dave Murphy urging the council to look into the introducing a mobile phone app enabling local residents to receive reminders about when to put out their bins and what to put in each bin.

Councillor Murphy said: "It will surely benefit the vast majority of our residents."

Councillor Brownridge said that there is already an app which has been developed by Recycle for Greater Manchester and will be rolled out in Oldham soon.