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Martin rubbishes bin collection
Reporter: Words by BEATRIZ AYALA
Date online: 13 January 2009
A FAILSWORTH father is fuming after his wheelie bin filled with festive rubbish was left uncollected because its lid was raised by 11/2 in.
Martin Marley (52), from Lancaster Avenue, returned home on Thursday morning from a 12-hour night shift to find his bin still in its place. Bin men had collected black refuse sacks placed alongside it.
When father-of-two Mr Marley tried to contact the council department, he was told all the managers were unavailable.
He said: “I’m livid. I called the council last week to see if I could arrange an extra collection before this week and was told there wasn’t a hope in hell.
“I was assured the rubbish would be taken this week, but they’ve missed my bin, which is full of household rubbish from Christmas and New Year.
“The gap between the lid and bin must have been not much bigger than an inch.”
Mr Marley said his end- terrace house backs on to a railway and there have been problems with rats and mice.
He said: “Oldham Council go on about recycling, but they can’t even be bothered to empty people’s bins.
“People try and do their best but it is a totally inadequate service.
“I pay my council tax and for what? It makes me feel like not paying it.”
Refuse advice on Oldham Council’s website says residents should make sure bin lids are closed to ensure collection.
Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for Environment and Transportation, said council officers found three bins at the property full of builders’ rubble.
He said: “The refuse service does not remove such material and in this instance could not physically move them.
“We will be giving guidance to ensure that the householder is clear on his responsibilities in the future.
“It is important that all residents are clear on what can and cannot go in the various bins that are provided for refuse and recycling by the council. For information and guidance call 0161-770 6644 or check the council website.”
Got an opinion or more information on this story? Send an e-mail now to:
beatrizayala@oldham-chronicle.co.uk
Pictures: DARREN ROBINSON
Comments
I have sympathy with the refuse collectors - why should they have to move overfilled bins? It cannot be beyond the wit of even the foolish to realise that a bin's lid wont shut: why not take excess rubbish to the tip like the rest of us do? Queen Street in Shaw is a prime example of squalor with many residents heaping up rubbish & not even crushing large cartons. I could not believe the state of some houses in Moss bank after Christmas.
We have had to phone the council every 2 weeks to get the brown bin emptied.special collections are promised,which do not happen.Very poorly organised after all the money spent on bins! David hill
Have Your Say
I went to collect my bin about hour after it was emptied last christmas, only to find someone from a neighbouring street had already filled it with his rubbish.
The problem is that you have to leave all the bins at the end of the road, so when someone has filled their own bin they just use someone elses.
By Owdamer @ 13/01/2009 12:47:28