WEEKLY bin collections could return to Basildon...but it would cost a whopping £3million after the controversial roll-out of a new waste scheme.
Basildon Council will meet next week to discuss potential options for the future of bin collections and councillor responsible for waste Aidan McGurran believes bringing back weekly pick-ups is the top priority.
Just nine months ago, the former Conservative administration rolled out a new waste scheme that replaced sacks with wheelie bins and moved to fortnightly collections.
However, the scheme proved controversial with residents complaining of missed collections and unsightly piles of rubbish lining the streets of the borough.
According to council documents, bringing back weekly collections would cost up to £3million extra but Mr McGurran believes “it is necessary” and further savings could be identified.
Big plans - Aidan McGurran (Image: Aidan McGurran)
Plumleys estate resident, Andrew Carter, said: “The bins scheme is ridiculous, this would be a real relief and it would make my estate tidier which I think is a good thing.
“We do our absolute best; we try and take things to the tip where others here don’t, and it would really make people take care of our estate.”
Despite the cost, Mr Carter said: “It would be a good thing, really, back in December, there was a lot of stuff being dumped and fly tipping.
“Waste was not being collected properly and the council made a mess, our rubbish was not being collected properly and the recycling bags were flimsy, and rubbish was getting blown out.”
Bringing back the weekly bin collections would be a “long-term plan” and a consultation would need to be held.
In the short term, the council is holding a “crunch month” where a lorry visits the borough’s estates to collect rubbish.
Mr McGurran said: “We will not be passing the cost to council taxpayer, and it is worth it because our estates at the moment are a disgrace.
“I spoke to a lot of residents, and they are ashamed of where they live at the moment, it leads to public health, mental health and all kinds of issues that need to be dealt with.
“There is a financial cost, it will be dealt with, the current system is not sustainable at the moment and needs to stop.
“It is still being looked at all the detail hasn’t been decided there will be savings.
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