By Vivienne Russell
5 January 2011
Town hall leaders have stressed that waste collection remains a ‘priority’ in the wake of a row over collection frequency.
Comments from Pete Edwards, the leader of Exeter City Council, that rubbish left uncollected was not a ‘major problem’ have stoked concerns that councils are not taking their waste responsibilities seriously. A combination of cold and snowy weather and extended holidays over the festive period has left some areas without a collection for four weeks.
But in a letter sent to all councils in England, local government minister Bob Neill said: ‘It is particularly troubling that some press reports could appear to suggest a level of complacency and a failure to address the seriousness of the issues. Families who have been told to stockpile their rotting refuse inside their own homes by councils are entitled to wonder if their council views the rubbish collection as just a favour not a right. And the public deserve a better answer than “this is not a major problem”.’
Neill suggested that councils tell residents what they are doing to tackle the backlog and what action they plan to take to ensure services are maintained over the Easter break.
But the Local Government Association has dismissed suggestions that councils have not been taking their waste collection duties seriously.
Clyde Loakes, vice chair of the LGA’s environment board, said: ‘Residents can rest assured that waste collection is a priority.
‘The vast majority of councils have caught up with the backlog and are now offering a normal service. Even in those councils still experiencing difficult,y disruption is confined to small areas where collection has been particularly challenging. They are making up for missed collections by extending shifts, redeploying workers on to dustcarts and working weekends and public holidays.’
