News

SHEPWAY SPENDING £2000 A MONTH  REPLACING  BINS

Lost recycling boxes putting an extra burden on Shepway's finances

Shepway District Council are spending a massive £2000 a month to deliver wheelie bins and replacing black recycling boxes, and that does not include the cost of the box.

District Councillor David Callahan asked the question: " How many wheelie bins, black boxes and blue bags have been reported missing/lost/damaged since the new refuse collection scheme was introduced?" and " What cost has there been to the ratepayers?"

The council have replied saying that there is no cost to them for wheelie bins because any that are lost or damaged by Cleanaway are replaced by them. 

They have admitted they have given out some 500 black boxes but emphasise that these were not new ones but ones that they still held from the original Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) funding and would be no cost to the ratepayer. They further stated: "We do however pay people to deliver these and any new wheelie bins that customers purchase, at a cost of around £2,000 per month."

When replying about the blue bags, which once emptied, can often be seen blowing around the district, Shepway have said that around 2,000 additional bags have been given out at a cost of around £140.00. These, they say were not the branded velcro bags which is why they are very cheap. 

The new branded bags are now in stock and cost the council 80p each. They now post these bags which they say has cost around £600.

Cllr Callahan said: "I am surprised at the cost of delivery of the boxes and bins and I am writing to Shepway to ask them to explain how they arrived at their figures."