Residents are kicking up a stink after their local council announced it is to reduce bin collections to just once every three weeks.
Cheshire East Council is expected to rubber stamp plans to end fortnightly collections despite 83% of people who responded to a consultation opposing the idea.
Worried residents raised the issue of increased numbers of vermin, the encouragement of fly-tipping and wider health concerns, but the local authority is forging ahead with the reduction in service.
The BBC reports the council said it had financially had “no choice” but to slash bin collections despite acknowledging council tax payers did not agree with the measure.
The council said it wants to introduce more enforcement officers and provide more education to offset the lack of bin collections.
Mick Warren, the chair of the council’s environment and communities committee, said: “Financially, we have no choice but to propose a move to three-weekly black bin collections.
“It could reduce the expected costs of introducing weekly food waste collections from £1.75m per year to around £450,000.”
Posting on social media, angry locals have vented their frustrations with the council. One said: “They are cutting the service and also implementing bin education and enforcement people to check that rubbish doesn’t go in the wrong bin.
“This is on top of closing many of the smaller local tips in Cheshire East. Any way they can fine people they will. It’s a disgrace.”
A second said: “Absolutely disgusting, but I’m not surprised! So despite residents’ opposition, CEC’s answer is to spend money on ‘education’ ? – whatever that is – and ‘enforcement officers’ with the added bonus of fining people who leave their bins out! That doesn’t really answer residents questions re the consultation. What a total waste of our money!”
Another user online said: “It’s going to stink in East Cheshire with the announcement of the trash only being collected every three weeks.”
The council claims it will be investing in mitigation measures to offset the disruption a lack of bin collections will cause.
However, its plans to do this by introducing more enforcement officers were also opposed during the consultation, with 69% of residents saying they disagreed with the idea.
Cheshire East Council serves around 406,000 residents and covers towns such as Alsager, Congleton, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Nantwich, Poynton, and Sandbach.
According to the BBC more than 6,200 people gave feedback on a consultation about the changes with 77% strongly opposing the plans and 6% simply opposed. Once approved, it’s expected the new bin collection timetable wil start in April 2026.
Enforcement officers will have the power to penalise residents who leave their bins out for days before or after a bin collection is due.