“Waste of money” claim as Rotherham Council switches new bins for even newer ones

They were given the smaller general rubbish bins when the new Rotherham Borough Council regime began at the turn of the year.

But this arrangement has already been replaced by providing communal recycling facilities for blocks of flats.

Resident Lea Schweika (43) spotted the swap being made in the Munsbrough and Greasbrough area.

He said: “The council have replaced all the bins to get more people recycling, which is good.

“But now at flats they are getting rid of the pink bins and replacing them with big massive Biffa bins.

“I don’t have a council property but I pay council tax and this seems like a huge waste of time and money.”

Tom Smith, RMBC assistant director of community safety and streetscene said: “Around 329 flats in Munsbrough with limited recycling options were previously provided with pink lid bins and these flats will now receive communal bins as part of a wider scheme to encourage recycling.

“Recent trials have showed that where communal recycling was introduced, there was a significant increase in residents participating in recycling. 

“The returned individual pink lid bins will be re-used elsewhere in the borough.”

Flats and apartments has proved one of the biggest challenges in changing Rotherham’s waste collection service. Many blocks have had no previous recycling arrangements.

The council said in April that bespoke solutions may be needed for problematic areas.

And last October RMBC was accused of wasting paper and money by sending letters about the rubbish revamp to flats which only have chutes.