Thousands sign up to battle new bins rotas

OVERFLOWING bins fear over the new three-weekly collections

A PETITION, backed by more than 3,000 people, has been launched to stop the controversial three-week bin collection in Oldham.

The petition, called 'Stop the 3 Week Bin Collection Rota in Oldham' was set up on the change.org web site.

So far it has garnered more than 3,100 signatures within four days. Once it reaches 5,000 signatures it will be presented to Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon; Craig Dale, who is head of waste management at Oldham Council; and council leader Jean Stretton.

Oldham Council announced plans last month for a "simplified" three-weekly collection cycle introduced with one rubbish or recycling bin being emptied each week.

Grey bins would be emptied one week, blue the following week and brown bins the week after that.

Green food and garden waste bins would still be emptied every week.

The petition reads: "Oldham council have released their plan to make a drastic cut to one of the most basic services taxpayers expect their council to provide.

"The plan is to reduce bin collections to just once every three weeks.

"How can a council continuously increase the council tax and withdraw paid services at the same time unchallenged?

"Where has the community been consulted on this.

"How many households will be able to hygienically retain three weeks' worth of rubbish?

"[There are] concerns of overflowing bins and dumped rubbish on the streets and alleys around Oldham resulting in bad odour and infestations of rodents and insects.

"Is there not a fundamental health issue? We have to make the council listen to us.

"We have to fight for our basic rights to live in an Oldham that is clean and safe not a health hazard dump.

"Let's unite and make our own choice what is right for the people."

Julie Thomas, from Oldham, has posted: "Collections every three weeks is unreasonable particularly for families.

"We have a young baby so lots of soiled nappies obviously creates bacteria and odours, especially in the warmer months."

Allison Slingo, from Uppermill, said: "As a family of four all of my bins are already full to overflowing by the time they are collected and a three weekly collection simply isn't enough".

Mike Pemberton, from Shaw, wrote: "I am concerned that a three week general waste collection will lead to hygiene and public health issues.

"Despite being a recycler and using the green brown and blue bins, my family still have items that cannot be recycled.

"The bin is full at the two week cycle on many occasions especially when our collection day falls as a public holiday.

"The proposal could therefore lead to a period of six weeks collection of a public holiday falls on the collection day."

The council says that the proposed changes ­- which would be introduced in early October ­- aim to improve the borough's recycling rate by 12 per cent and save the authority approximately £3million over the next two years.

At a full meeting of Oldham Council last week, leader Jean Stretton said the decision will not be reversed.