Janet Finch-Saunders AM has pledged that Welsh Conservative-led councils would reinstate fortnightly bin collections, if elected in the forthcoming May elections.
Following the outcry of many Aberconwy residents over the trial for four-weekly bin collections in some areas of Conwy, the Shadow Secretary for Local Government and Assembly Member for Aberconwy said:
“Conwy County Borough Council consulted on recycling before introducing the four-weekly scheme in Conwy. Of the 11,000 households who responded, a fantastic 99.66% recycled everything or a lot – a figure that’s tough to beat!
“Yet 39% stated that their wheelie bin would be full or overflowing within two weeks, and 60% felt that they wouldn’t cope with a 3- or 4-weekly collections.
“How can the Plaid Cymru-led Council justify the reasons to half the number of bin collections, based on this response?”
Speaking ahead of the local government elections in May this year, Janet continued:
“Welsh Conservatives want to protect waste collection services, and will pledge that a Welsh Conservative-led council would ensure that residual waste is collected at least fortnightly.
“Thousands of people across Conwy County are calling out for improved services, especially when they face council tax rising for yet another year by an inflation-busting 5% in 2016-17, one of the highest in the UK.
The Member further called on the Welsh Government to take action on refuse levels, by tackling packaging waste, stating that:
“The overproduction of packaging is a problem that the National Assembly for Wales, as a law-making institution, should be getting to grips with. Our constituents are paying for its production and are paying for its disposal, and it is simply not fair.
“Welsh Labour needs to think smarter and work more effectively in the interests of their households, residents and local authority taxpayers.”