Success in campaign to reverse Rugby Council’s decision to stop green bin services

After months of campaigning the announcement on 16 December 2016 that Rugby Borough Council will reinstate the green bin service in January 2017 has been warmly welcomed by Rugby Liberal Democrats.

The u-turn came after an agreement was struck between Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council. This means that all households will have their green bin collected in the weeks beginning January 23 or 30. Green bin collections will then restart immediately after the timetable changes are finalised.

The decision to stop the green bin service between December 2016 and March 2017 was originally made by the Conservative Cabinet who runs Rugby Borough Council. A Liberal Democrats motion at full Council in November, which gained the support of the other political groups, highlighted the need to rethink the decision and the necessity of providing residents with alternative means of recycling garden and food waste.

Since then the Council has been surveying residents about whether they would pay extra for the service to be reinstated.

In December, in an open letter to the Leader of Rugby Council, Councillor Mike Stokes and Councillor Lisa Parker who holds the Environment Portfolio, the Liberal Democrats called for an immediate halt to the decision and an end to the poorly worded survey that had enraged residents.

What will happen next?

Rugby Borough Council will deliver new waste collection calendars to residents in the week beginning 9 January 2017.

Food waste and garden waste should be placed in the green bin until collections restart, or garden waste can be composted or taken to one of the Warwickshire County Council-run tips. Black bins containing garden waste will not be emptied.

Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/recycling for more information

If you have any questions or feedback then please don't hesitate to contact us info@rugbylibdems.org.uk