“Let us recycle” - Isle residents call for bigger bins

Westwoodside resident Helen Jones voiced her frustration at being left unable to recycle as much waste as possible on a social media website, and was stunned at how many people shared her annoyance at the situation.

Helen, 57, of Upperthorpe Road in Westwoodside, said she constantly requests a larger purple bin to cater for the waste left by her family of five, but is repeatedly refused one by North Lincolnshire Council.

Helen (pictured) said: “It seems the only way you can have a larger recycling bin is if you have a small general bin – and with a family of five that is no good to us at all.

“I recycle as much as I can but this policy is ridiculous. I am tempted to put excess plastic in the green bin and let it go to landfill to take hundreds of years to biodegrade.

“Maybe when they get fined by the EU or whoever is in charge NLCC will show some common sense and give us appropriately sized bins.”

Her sentiments were echoed online by Isle resident Sheena Ballard who was refused a larger brown bin for garden waste and said: “I was told to take excess to Epworth tip. I pointed out that to do this caused far more pollution than if the bin men collected it but to no avail. There’s no wonder there are piles of waste at the sides of pavements in the area.”

Claire Petch also made comment, adding:”I am left with no choice other than to put the excess in the green bin as I don’t drive! I tried to leave excess in a bag next to the bin but they refuse to take it.”

Another spokeswoman for a family of six, Elyse Seaton, said she asks often for a larger red bin but is told she is not entitled. “Surely if we create more rubbish we would create more recycling. There is no logic.”

And Lisa Capp said: “I do recycle but some weeks my bin overflows and I have to take bags to my parents’ house two villages away!”

The council’s recycling bins policy states: “Whilst we encourage residents to recycle as much of their waste as possible, we are also limited on the amount we are able to collect on a refuse collection vehicle in the time available”.

“The restriction on the collection capacity from each household also addresses the council’s drive for more sustainable resource consumption and discouraging unnecessary waste.”

q See www.epworthbells.co.uk coverage for full policy.