Call over Stafford refuse collection

A Labour councillor is calling for a debate on the success of the Stafford borough's new waste collection system.

Councillor Stephen O'Connor is raising the issue at a meeting of the borough council's environment scrutiny committee on Thursday.

He says that the introduction of the new recycling and refuse collection arrangement are not as efficient as had been suggested by the cabinet member for the environment Councillor Stan Highfield.

He claims Councillor Highfield has failed in the promises he made to the council and public to deliver a seamless transfer from a weekly to fortnightly collection.

The head of environment Howard Thomas will present a report to the committee on the progress of the new waste collection contract that has seen blue wheelie bins for recyclable material supplied to all 55,000 homes in the borough.

The Conservative-controlled council has come under fire from some residents after bins were delivered broken and others turned up just hours before the first collection.

Some residents were confused by the launch of the new fortnightly waste collection service and accidentally put out the wrong coloured bin for collection.

Councillor Highfield has defended the system and apologised to residents over teething problems.

Broken caddies in the blue bins are being replaced.

Councillor Wakefield insists that the new recycling service is providing a successful service with an 80 per cent increase in recycling in some areas of the borough.

The new £17 million six-year contract started at the beginning of February after the council invested £1.3 million in buying the new bins which are collected alternately with the green domestic waste bins.