A homeowner has spoken of his anger after he claims council refuse collectors left his recycling bin uncollected because ‘the lid was open’. Richard Eccleston, from Walmley, said he diligently folded his cardboard and placed it in inside the pod, when he left the wheelie bins out on his road on Thursday (Jan 2).
The crews emptied his household rubbish but he was mystified to find his recycling untouched and a tag left on it, which read ‘bin lid open’. He contacted Birmingham City Council who told him that if he had removed the pod and placed it next to the bin, it would’ve been taken.
He claims they also added that the decision is down to the individual refuse collector. They sent him a message apologising and asked him to place the bin outside for collection.
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Elsewhere across the city, people were saying tags had been left on their uncollected bins stating their lids were open.
Mr Eccleston, a father-of-four, said: “I put the bins out on Wednesday for Thursday. The black bin got emptied and the irony is the lid was open because it was full.”
Richard Eccleston’s recycling was not collected on Thursday because the lid was left open
When he returned home, he noticed the blue bin had not been emptied. He said: “I looked and there was a tag which said ‘bin lid open’ and please take it to a refuse.
“There were about four in the cul-de-sac which had lids open and hadn’t been collected. I emailed the council and called.
“It’s never happened before and the lids are never shut and it’s not been an issue. They told me that the rules are the lids need to be shut or the cardboard insert or pod can be on the the ground next to it, meaning the lid can shut.
“They do recognise that it’s down to the individual binmen and they can make the decision. I always break down my cardboard.
“I stack it sideways because I find you can fit more in therefore the lid doesn’t shut because it comes over the lid. If I get big cardboard, I tape it together and put it at the side of the bin, it’s always taken.”
Mr Eccleston has received an email from waste management apologising and saying they will return to collect his recycling.
Birmingham City Council has been contacted for comment.
On Thursday, the council issued an apology after bin lorries failed to empty the recycling bins in some parts of the city. They posted on X: “Due to operational reasons, we’ve been unable to collect cardboard and paper recycling in some areas of the city today (2nd January).
“If you have been affected, please leave your recycling bin out for collection, and we’ll return it tomorrow. Apologies for any inconvenience.”
City waste crews started implemented work to rule on Thursday ahead of a series of strikes which start on Monday.