AROUND 17,000 requests have been lodged for replacement recycling wheelie bins following splits and mounting rubbish.
Angry residents have spoken out over severe backlogs of recyclable waste and bin men refusing to take collections.
Solihull council has been forced to issue an announcement on ‘alternative’ collection with some having waited two weeks to have their rubbish taken – while others have resorted to dumping the contents of bins at local tips.
A ‘manufacturing fault’ was uncovered in the plastic brown bins and as a consequence thousands of bins have split – now being labelled a health and safety risk.
Those who have applied for new bins are being advised they will wait up to 20 working days.
The bins are provided by MGB, and Amey is a privately contracted company hired by the council to deliver waste collection.
The council says the cost of replacements will be covered by MGB – a wheelie bin manufacturer.
The council informed us around 10,500 bins have been replaced since the problem first emerged last month.
It has advised using alternative containers for collection – such as plastic boxes.
Resident Martin Tongue from Valley Road, near Elmdon, said his rubbish has not been collected for more than two weeks.
He said: “They wouldn’t empty it or anything, a few people on this road are in exactly the same position.
“One chap was nose to nose with the bin man arguing – it’s just ridiculous.
“The bins are full. Where do we go from a full bin that’s split?
“All they’re doing is putting a health and safety label on it.
“I have applied for a new bin, but nothing’s happening.
“A chap at the tip said to me people have been bringing split bins and emptying them and then taking back home.
“A lady had a little hair-line crack on her bin so they slapped a sticker on it and refused to take it.
“I pay my rates. You make a general phone call to them and you get no response.
“It is as if you don’t matter.
“But at the end of the day I pay for the service and they should be doing it.”
Despite council announcements, residents are still unclear about how to manage backlogs of household waste.
A Solihull council spokesperson said: “Split bins are still being collected but those that are deemed severely damaged and therefore unable to be safely lifted on and off the vehicles to be emptied will not be.
“We are asking residents to leave their recycling in alternative suitable containers for collection.
“These can be woven shopping bags, plastic boxes or clear sacks, and residents can collect the clear sacks from our walk-in centres and libraries.”
