Bristol residents are outraged as the council plans to cut bin collections to once a month while raising council tax by 15%
Bristol: The city is facing a big change in waste collection. Bins may only be emptied once a month. This is happening while council tax is set to rise by 15%. Many residents are upset about this decision.
The Green Party runs the council. They believe this change will save over £2 million a year. They also hope it will improve recycling rates. But most people in Bristol are not happy about it.
A recent survey shows that 60% of residents feel very negative about the plan. Thousands have signed a petition against it. Bristol has around 500,000 people, and each person creates a lot of waste each year.
The council is also considering a £245 increase in average council tax bills. Martin Fodor, the council’s environment chair, says the current waste management is becoming too expensive. He points out that a lot of waste could be recycled instead of going to landfills.
There’s a six-week consultation happening, but many are already voicing their concerns. Some fear this will lead to more fly-tipping. Others might hide their waste in recycling bins, which are still collected every two weeks.
Currently, Bristol recycles about 45% of its waste, one of the best rates in the UK. However, this rate is dropping. Tom Renhard, a council leader, argues that residents shouldn’t pay more for less service. He believes the current waste collection issues need fixing first.
He warns that if someone misses their monthly collection, they’ll have to keep their rubbish for a whole month. This could lead to more fly-tipping, which is already a problem in the city.
Lynsey Crombie, known as the Queen of Clean, says taxpayers will “revolt” if the council goes ahead with these changes. Bristol has seen civil unrest before, and residents are clearly passionate about their waste management.
In 2020, Bristol was in the news for the toppling of a statue linked to slavery. Now, the focus is on how the council manages waste and the impact on its residents.
