A councillor says he hopes compensation will be sought for a mix-up over new recycling bags across Lichfield and Burntwood.
A meeting held behind closed doors at Lichfield District Council this week saw members given additional detail about the situation, which has seen some blue bags distributed that are a third smaller than they should have been.
Cllr Paul Ray, Liberal Democrat representative for Chadsmead ward, said taxpayers should not be left footing the bill for the issue.
“The council must do whatever it can to get compensation from the bag suppliers.
“This whole saga has cost the council time and money – compensation is needed to protect our residents and taxpayers.”
Cllr Paul Ray, Lichfield District Council
The change to the recycling system now sees households sort paper and card separately.
Despite the mix-up, Cllr Ray said it was important people utilised the bags in order to ensure as much could be recycled as possible.
“I support the policy of dual stream recycling which requires the separation of card and paper using the blue bags because it leads to more efficient recycling.
“Protecting our environment is such a critical priority and I would just like to see Lichfield District Council bringing more ambitious projects forward to enhance and protect our environment – that is really important to our residents.
“I therefore urge people to use the new blue bags and if necessary request an additional bag from the council.
“As the bags have not been made to the correct size residents can request an additional one.”
Cllr Paul Ray, Lichfield District Council
We “shouldn’t”, but we will, as we always do. Friarsgate being a good example. Boarded up since 2017 – it’s now 2022 and still boarded up.
This council has shown itself time and time again, to be completely inept.
It’s high time Eadie and Pullen slung their hooks. If only WE had local elections this week…..
Why can’t these people get it in their heads that we don’t want ‘extra’ bags we have nowhere to put them, why on earth could we not have two half size blue wheelie bins replacing the single big blue bin, the council could recycle the big blue bins…. But hold on that requires common sense and good management something which is sadly lacking in the council……
Have not received our blue bag yet but this really does smack of incompetence somewhere along the line.
The blue bags are completely impractical and will lead to recyclable material being put in the black bin. Many people will not have the space to store two bags. One bag is not big enough for two weeks’ worth of material especially if it includes newspaper, and then it will be too heavy for some people to deal with. Not everyone is able to take excess to the tip. Why are plastic wrappers now not being recycled?
Hand on heart, we’ve already “slacked off” the recycling in our house. We live in a small 3 bed house with 2 kids. We don’t have space for 3 different bins (other, paper, glass and plastic). So – guess what’s happening? We do want to recycle (of course we do) but, this council has made it impractical and difficult.
Is there anything thing this council does well?
I still think no one is going to take responsibility for the problem. We should definitely be told as tax payers what is being done to resolve the matter.
Does anyone know the expected life of these bags?
The blue bins last for many years. It does not seem very “green” if the bags need to be replaced every year or two.
We have had ours delivered in Burton and they are tiny. Complete waste of time, effort and money.
The green boxes didnt work this wont
It was exactly the same idea
There will be bags and paper everywhere more rats
Why not put a removable separator in the blue bin
Had blue bag last Friday. Already full and excess gone in black bin. Stupid. Not requesting a SECOND bag as first is stored in blue bin and have to be careful that glass n plastic doesn’t go in it. Glass bottles now getting broken in bin.
We have been told in the paper work provided that the bag fits nicely on top of our existing blue bin. Do the council really expect a 70 year old and those resident even older to lift off a bag full of paper to put an empty tin or milk carton into the blue bin. These people are not real
Surely this not an issue of compensation. If the bags do not comply with the specification provided by the council, they should be returned to the supplier at no cost the council. This is normal business practice. You pay only for what you ordered.
Fiasco, as per. Some of our neighbours decided they would have two.
I fill 2 extra large blue bins every 2 weeks. 1 full of cardboard and the other plastic and other recyclable material, this is due to me being on home dialysis. My blue bag was full in 2 days where am I supposed to put the other 12 days worth?
The councils are a waste of space what good are these stupid little bags to anyone just like those separate boxes they supplied told us to use and what happened to them.They are great at brainless ideas that keep wasting tax payers money.
Dinosaurs
I do agree with everyone else the bags are not fit for purpose. They certainly won’t last as long as a bin, definitely not fit for people with mobility problems and elderly. That said we have to do what they say right or wrong, I agree we do need to save the planet. A tip for anyone that can do it, if you have a brown bin you don’t use or a second blue one. What we have done as we don’t need our brown bin, placed a tall bucket in the bottom, cut and placed a strong board on top of it. The blue bag sits on it perfectly, top of bag level with top of bin. Keeps bag dry paper and card secure away from wind and water. Just then needs lifting out and placing in top or on top of blue bin on bin day.
Obviously this is only for people it will work for, but it dose work and gets rid of one problem at least. The only thing I do say is can all the bin men be told to check in blue bin for bag. As I have already heard of someone who has lost there bag, it went in the bin lorry with glass ect never to be seen again. One replacement needed already probably more, and we have only just started. 🤔
I put my blue bin out last week only for it not be emptied as it still had paper in it…. I haven’t had a blue bag yet & unfortunately the council hadn’t realised I’m not a mind reader & dont have a crystal ball!! I have now resorted the recycling taking card & paper out ready for when a bag is finally delivered, which a nice lady at the council assures me will be soon…. not holding my breath! The whole situation has been badly mismanaged & someone should be held accountable as they would in any other business.
These bags are far too small. I now have 2 and they are full in a couple of days.
Why can I not label one of my blue bins “cardboard/paper” – I then don’t need a glorified blue shopping bag!
Waste of time all my paper recycling will now be going in my black bin.
I feel sorry for the bin men having to struggle to empty these bags into the wagon. Saw one struggling last week. Hope the council have the money saved to payout all the bad back compensation out. Stupid idea by folks who are paid to waste our money.
As a previously contentious recycling household sadly these bags are so impractical, like others, much of my paper/card is now going in the black bin. Additional bags is not the answer. This is such a poorly thought out solution that it has completely demotivated us to sort our waste, ready for collection. Like our MP our councillors are a shambles.
Mom 75, helped her fill blue bag card paper magazines full. She couldnt lift it then to take it to top of the drive, her blue bin was not emptied stickers slapped on saying contact council simply because bless her a bit of paper was in with her bottles and tins! No one has thought if elderly, disabled and people with mental health issue she lives in Hammerwich , the bag idea is uncredibly poor, not to mention the bin men having to lift the bags themselves . Mean while in Burntwood we have not recieved our blue bags and quite frankly after seeing the fiasco of moms we dont want them! Whoever thought of a bag idea trying to cut costs and now probably cost themselves far more in the long run! Scrap the idea we were all doing fine with Blue black brown bins .
This is what you asked for, folks.
Vote for blue clowns, get a Conservative circus.
Councillors Resign
Fact 1 . The public have increased the use of the grey bins. Purely down to lack of consideration of storage of now what is 4 recycling items per house hold ( more in some cases)
Fact 2. The bin collection team have increased workloads slowing down collection times because of numerous recycled bins.
Fact 3. If the person signing off council tax money for the new ( bags) didn’t actually have an hands on approach with samples and running in of this new scheme then they need to be removed from that position.
Fact 4. Closed door meetings about the shambles of this new scheme evidences all the councillors know that Lichfield residents are very angry.
Fact 5. Is it true that the councillors have plans to reduce grey bin collections to every 3 weeks which forces down landfill and costs ?.
With many residents writing such dissatisfaction with this council , is it time for a new leader or a new council overhaul . Michael Fabricant MP ! Are you reading these posts ! If not, why not ?
Total waste of money, whatever will they think of next ,who is going to carry these bags out for elderly and dissabled people
This council is ridiculous ,pay for use of brown bin , what other council charges for this
You’re so right Pearl! We have to pay for brown bin collection so then you can buy compost back from the council; pay to dispose one’s rubble, so then it can be crushed and recycled for road resurfacing and yet the number of glorious potholes in Lichfield only increases! Cappers Lane is just disgusting! My lovely elderly neighbour is worrying how will she manage… What of the properties without back garden and driveway? How the bags will be weighted down to ensure we don’t pollute countryside with flying bags? From the previous comments re size I can only safely assume that IKEA bags might have been cheaper option for the council… They’ve lost their minds so now they lose our money.
@Pearl. “who is going to carry these bags out for elderly and dissabled people”?
Your question appears to have been answered on the Council’s website:
https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/recycling-bins-waste/recycling-changes/12
“12: Assisted collections are available
…
We offer assisted collections to those resident who are unable to move a bin or a bag to the presentation point. Applications for assisted collections can be received on line or by telephone.”
Worst council ever
If this council were a football team I’m pretty sure we’d all be singing “you’re not fit to wear the shirt”.
This whole fiasco smacks of incompetency from the very beginning, from suggestion by councillor/staff, through submission to committee, approval to inception.
In Tamworth:
1. Our blue bin collection yesterday but no bags. They’ve run out of blue bags. It is known how many blue bins there are out there. Why did they not get enough bags to match the number of bins?
2. Whole roads were missed on the green bin and blue bin/bag collection last Tuesday. The blue bins were full and the bags were full. Now the residents don’t have anywhere to put their recycling except in the black bin, defeats the object of recycling.
When many of the residents have rung to complain, there was no apology. They were being told to leave the blue bins/bags out as they would be collected within 5 days. Still not been emptied as at today, Monday.
There’s little enough room on the footpaths with the blue bins/bags having to be left out and now the black bins have to go out for collection tomorrow.
3. We are astounded at the incompetence of whoever accepted delivery of an order that was NOT up to specification. An order that was made with substandard material/stitching, and the sizing!!! The whole delivery should have been checked on receipt, rejected immediately as not fit for purpose, not to specification on order, replacements demanded on receipt of which the substandard products to be returned at cost to the supplier.
My Husband is a Quality Professional, AMIQA, for all his working life, from inspector through to Quality Management Executive.
He wants to know:
(A) Why was the scheme approved in the first place considering previous fiasco with the blue boxes? A scheme that was forced on us for paper and card collection in the late 90s? A scheme that was abandoned a short time later due to the boxes being far too heavy for both the residents AND the collectors.
(B) Was a sample product received before confirming the order? If not, why not? If so, was the stitching, fabric and sizing adequate. We’ve already seen photos of the stitching giving way on the handles.
If the product received was NOT as the sample, that’s fraud, the whole delivery should have been rejected and the supplier reported to the police for attempting to obtain money by deception. Given that councils take up to 90days to pay their invoices, that could have been nipped in the bud immediately. Or did they pay upfront? If so, WHY? I’ve NEVER heard of a local council paying up front and I worked for one for 11years.
(C) Was the impact on the elderly and disabled considered that, when full, they would be unable to lift the bags, having to drag them? Would the fabric stand up to being dragged time after time?
(D) Was storage of the bags by the residents considered? Where are these bags to be kept? The residents certainly don’t want them in their kitchens (i) no room, (ii) after having been outside waiting for collection.
Lots more questions about:
(1) Who recommended the blue bag scheme for approval in the first place?
(2) What incentive was there to put this suggestion forward in the first place?
(3) Was the whole scheme subjected to full scrutiny?
(4) Where the logistics taken into account on the impact on ALL the residents not just the fully able bodied in houses with enough room to accommodate the bags etc.
(5) Was this whole fiasco thought through thoroughly BEFORE being approved?
Or is there another reason that we’re not being told about?
Mistakes on new recycling system will be very costly in addition to losses on wrong bags accepted. Extra costs for”assisted collections” needed by disabled and elderly residents. Possible compensation to be paid to refuse collectors or residents for back injuries related to lifting heavy bags!!
I have lived all over the country and never seen or experienced a council this bad.