Invasion of the new waste bins (From Oxford Mail)

Invasion of the new waste bins

5:00pm Saturday 21st August 2010 in

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PENSIONERS are ann-oyed after 27 bins were left outside their homes which they say will be useless.

The Vale of White Horse is introducing a new waste disposal system, designed to recycle more and reduce the amount going to landfill.

But residents of Dibleys Heritage, a retirement village in Blewbury, said an officer from the Vale told them their homes would be exempt as there was nowhere to store the bins.

But, last week, bins were left outside nine of the houses.

Residents’ association chairman Ann Dendy said: “We now have 27 bins sitting on a public footpath.

“If it was not so ludicrous it would be laughable, especially when we had gone to so much effort to get exemption and they just appear.

“I know we will get them removed, but we are in this climate of trying to economise.

“It just seems a complete and utter waste of money and time.

“And now we have to wait for the council to come and collect them. It is just stupid.

“We do not know what is happening. The residents all agree it is absolutely ridiculous.”

She added there was nowhere to store the bins.

She said: “You cannot put them around the back of the homes because the bin men cannot get there and there is not enough room at the front.

“Also, most of our homes only have one person living in there, and the new bins are more than twice the size they need.”

Currently, the 70-or-so residents, who live in 46 bungalows and nine houses, have bags of waste collected every week.

Bins are due to be delivered to homes in the Vale before the new waste disposal scheme starts in October.

Each property will have three bins and the council will collect food waste every week, and rubbish and recycling every other week.

Dibleys estate manager Nigel Ford said the council had turned up with “millions” of bins.

He said: “It is going to cause a lot of disturbance because they are blocking a public right of way.

“It is blocking the highway and people have to walk in the road. It is summer now, but soon mothers will be walking along with their kids.”

Council spokesman Gavin Walton said the nine houses were suitable for bins, and residents in the properties would be receiving assisted waste collections.

He said: “Officers have surveyed the Dibleys Retirement Village for the suitability of bins for the new waste collection which starts in October.

“There is a main body of properties not suitable for the bins which would be receiving sacks.”

Jenny Hannaby, executive member for waste, added: “Where there is some concern over survey recommendations we will revisit the site.”