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Dudley Council plans fortnightly bin collections in bid to save £2.3m

Residents across Dudley borough will have their rubbish bins collected once every two weeks, under controversial plans the cash-strapped council hopes will save £2.3 million.

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The proposals, which are to be discussed by cabinet at a meeting next Wednesday, include introducing a £30 yearly charge for green waste collections and moving to fortnightly weekly waste collections.

Opposition parties have slammed the move by the Labour-controlled authority. But chiefs defended the plans, saying they came in the face of unprecedented cuts to local authority funding.

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said: "These changes are about making sure people still have a first-class collection service while dealing with significant reductions in funding from national government.

"We do not have to run a free green waste collection but we recognise it is popular with people and helps generate valuable compost.

"The small charge we are proposing will help continue this service and I would urge people to sign up to the scheme.

Alternate collections between waste and recycling will be introduced under the new scheme meaning residents will still get one collection each week, alternating between general waste and recycling.

Conservative group leader Councillor Patrick Harley said: "The plans weren't in the Labour party's manifesto for charging for green waste. Clearly they have been misleading the public.

"We will be looking for other UKIP members not to sit on the fence and vote against the proposal.

The plans will lead to more fly-tipping and it is a backwards step for green waste."

If approved, the charge to the green waste service will be introduced in February next year.

The 10 months covered by the scheme is an extension to the current seven months and one week.

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