Southend residents slam new wheelie bin collections

As part of the new waste scheme, residents will see rubbish sacks replaced by wheelie bins and alternate week collections for recycling and non-recyclable rubbish. 

Now, residents have been left worrying about where they will keep wheelie bins and the impact of waste collection lorries gridlocking tiny roads across the borough on collection day. 

Not consulted - Tony said residents were not consulted on the issue (Image: Michael Robinson)

Southend Council has admitted it is aware of concerns and flats with no space for wheelie bins will continue to have sacks, while homes across the borough will be assessed over the suitability of wheelie bins. 

Tony Moltino, a resident on Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, said: “The whole thing’s a recipe for disaster. There’s no way we can bring bins through the house. It’s bad enough bringing bags out on a Wednesday.

No space - Mr Moltino said he will not be able to take the bins to the pavement unless he wheels them through his home (Image: Michael Robinson)

“They haven’t thought it through, you tell me where people are going to put their bins. With the bins left on the pavement, is it going to be an eyesore? Will it decrease property prices?

“The first I heard about it was on Facebook, we weren’t consulted. It shouldn’t be a council decision, it should be a residents decision.

Packed pavements - Chris said the new collection system will leave pavements impassable (Image: Michael Robinson)

“How are they going to get the wheelie bins between cars? This road gets chock-a-block.”
Currently, residents are expected to sort their rubbish into black sacks for general waste and pink sacks for recyclables. There are additional bins for garden waste.

Chris Carroll, a resident on Westbourne Grove, said the introduction of wheelie bins would see pavements too cluttered for mobility scooters and prams.

Curb parking - Residents on Westbourne Grove said the narrow road means they need to park on the curb, which will leave even less room on paths with the bins (Image: Michael Robinson)

He said: “When you look at the parking on some of these roads, how are they going to get the wheelie bins through? My dad’s 93, it’s hard enough for him to put a sack out. How’s he supposed to wheel them out. It’s going to fail, mark my words. I don’t think the council have considered this much at all.”

Sarah Russell, of Eastwood Boulevard in Westcliff, fears bins may not be big enough. She said: “We are a four-person household, we have 4-6 bins a week, If it’s bi-weekly, that won’t fit into a wheelie bin, how many bins will we need? Two-week waiting times, will that encourage rats? We have a lot in this area.”