New Survey throws doubt on local Conservatives' Alternate Bin Collections

9.19.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Jul 2009

Residents in Bracknell Forest get Alternate Bin Collections with Rubbish one week and Recycling the next. Lib Dem administrations in the Royal Borough have always defended weekly collections.

A large scale survey undertaken by the Department of Communities and Local Government has confirmed that alternate bin collections (ABC) are less popular than weekly collections.

The 'Place Survey' published by the Government canvassed the opinions of more than half a million people and while 78% are satisfied with their rubbish collections, approval ratings for those with fortnightly rubbish collections average only 71.7%.

The twenty most popular rubbish collection services are all weekly and gain approval levels between 89% and 93%, while the twenty least popular only gain approval levels between 55% and 63%.

Bracknell Forest Council led by Conservative Cllr Paul Bettison, colloquially known as the 'Bin Baron' and chief cheerleader for Alternate Bin Collections (ABC) at the Local Government Association, comes last but one out of the 329 councils that took part in the survey.

Local Lib Dems are not surprised at the result. The Conservatives` Alternate Bin Collections were not popular in Bracknell Forest when they were implemented without any public consultation or debate. Even Gordon Brown has conceded that residents should be given a choice about which collection system they want!

The move to Alternate Bin Collections and the associated highly controversial wheelie bins is being largely driven by the desire to reduce costs and minimise the payment of Government landfill taxes by forcing more recycling. However there is increasing evidence that recycling levels can be raised without resorting to Alternate Collections and large wheelie bins. The Government's own rubbish quango, WRAP, admits that large wheelie bins can be counter-productive for recycling because they often lead to cross-contamination of recyclables and non-recyclables.

Both the domestic and commercial collection and disposal of waste in this country is in a mess and the sooner it is put it on a firmer footing the better.