Pickles’ bin fund gets single application to reinstate weekly collection

Only one authority operating fortnightly bin collections has applied for Government funding to restore weekly black bag services, a survey has found.

Having questioned 216 councils that are currently operating fortnightly rubbish collections, Materials Recycling Weekly found that Stoke-on-Trent City Council had submitted the sole application for funds to bring back general weekly waste collection.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles launched the £250m fund in September last year to pay councils to retain or reinstate weekly waste collection services.

Questioning the 326 English authorities responsible for collecting rubbish, the survey found that the majority of the 160 fund applicants had looked to alter rubbish collection without installing blanket weekly services.

It was found that Cheshire West and Chester Council had requested the financial support in order to develop its weekly nappy recycling service, with a further five intending to bring back weekly bin collections for a limited number of residents.

A number of town halls also affirmed that they were looking to scrap their more frequent collections. Authorities across Yorkshire have stated that they are looking to expand two-weekly collection pilots across 30 areas of East Riding and Hull.

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: ‘The department is currently assessing the bids and ministers will make a statement in due course.’

‘Weekly rubbish collections are the most visible of all front-line services and ministers believe every household in England has a basic right to have their rubbish collected every week,’ the spokesperson added. ‘The fund will help councils deliver weekly collections and also make it easier for families to go green and improve the local environment.’