Council: 'Buy your own bin'

Replacements will be about £40 a time and homeowners moving in to new houses will also foot the bill for new binsfrom £60 each.

Rotherham Borough Council said that the policy will bring the authority in line with most others who charge for the service. But critics claim that it is unfair and have questioned how much will actually be pocketed by the authority.

They also believe that it could lead to increased fly-tipping. Exceptions will be made where wheelie bins have been stolen, set on fire or damaged by the council’s bin men.

Rothercard holders will get theirs for half price and large families needing an extra bin are excepted.

Hugh Long, the council’s projects and customer interface officer, said in a report that charging residents for wheelie bins presented a number of issues.

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He said: “There may be an increase in anti-social behaviour if residents decide not to purchase a bin and fly-tip their waste.

“There could also be enforcement issues with respect to fly-tipping.”

Opposition councillor Tony Mannion disputed the amount that the council’s report said would be made by the scheme.

He said: “Why, if you’re moving to a new house, do you have to pay for your bin? It seems unfair. “And replacement charges will only generate money from very honest people.”

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