Knutsford residents frustrated by repeated missed bin collections
Cheshire East Council has reminded households how to report problems after complaints about bins being left unemptied in parts of the town.
By Knutsford Guardian
Residents in Knutsford have raised concerns after experiencing repeated problems with bins being left unemptied on scheduled collection days.
The complaints have prompted renewed attention on the process households should follow when a collection is missed.
Cheshire East Council advises residents not to report an unemptied bin until after 6pm on collection day, as crews may still be working in the area.
A missed collection can then be reported for up to two working days after the date on which the bin should have been emptied.
The council’s online system uses information recorded by collection crews and can indicate whether a round was missed or whether there was a reason a particular bin could not be collected.
Where a missed collection report is accepted, the authority says it will normally try to return within five working days, although this cannot always be guaranteed.
Residents are generally advised to leave the bin out in a safe position while waiting for the crew to return.
If the council is unable to make another collection before the next scheduled date, households can leave up to three standard-sized bags alongside a black household waste bin or silver recycling bin for collection.
Different rules apply when a bin has not been emptied because it was presented incorrectly, contained unsuitable material, was too heavy or could not be accessed.
Residents experiencing repeated missed collections are advised to contact Cheshire East’s Waste and Recycling Customer Service Team, as the standard online form can only deal with individual missed collections.
The latest concerns in Knutsford come after Cheshire East acknowledged wider disruption to its waste service earlier this year.
In July, the authority apologised to residents affected by delayed or incomplete rounds, saying shortages of HGV drivers and loading staff, vehicle breakdowns and hot weather had contributed to difficulties.
The council said it was taking steps to improve reliability and get collections back on schedule.
Further changes to waste collections are also approaching across Cheshire East.
From late autumn, food waste will begin to be collected weekly and black household waste bins will move to a three-weekly collection cycle. Some households will also see their usual collection day change.
For now, residents are being advised to continue following their existing collection calendar and report individual missed bins through Cheshire East Council’s waste service.