Bins Left Uncollected for a Month, Caerphilly Street Overflows
Residents in Caerphilly are frustrated as their bins remain uncollected for weeks, leading to overflowing waste and pest concerns
Caerphilly, Wales, Waste Collection, Overflowing Bins, Residents
Caerphilly: It’s been a month since the bins were last collected in some areas, and folks are really feeling it. In Blackwood, the wheelie bins are overflowing, and it’s not just the rubbish bins—food waste and dog poo bins are full too.
People say the trouble started last autumn when the cash-strapped council changed how they handle waste collection. Since October, bins have been left out for days, and it’s becoming a real headache.
Residents are worried about rats showing up because of all the waste piling up. The council has apologized, claiming this is just a “one-off” issue and promising to clear the streets soon. They insist the changes made in October aren’t to blame for the current mess.
Pictures from Monday show just how bad it’s gotten. One resident mentioned that they’re lucky many elderly people live there, so the waste isn’t as high. But even so, it’s getting out of hand.
Mark Birkby, who lives on William Street, is fed up. He said, “You can see the families because their bins are overflowing. It’s ridiculous. I’ve emailed everyone I can think of to get some help.”
He added that delays have been happening for a while, but this is the longest stretch without a collection. “We last had our bins collected on December 19. With all the waste piling up, it couldn’t have come at a worse time,” he said.
At first, the council blamed the delays on high waste volumes, then on staff shortages. Thankfully, the elderly residents help keep the waste down, but it’s still a struggle.
People have been sharing bins and taking each other’s rubbish to keep things tidy, but it’s getting tough to keep pests away. Ashleigh Harris, another resident, said, “It’s happening all the time. Since October, we haven’t had a regular collection, and the rats are a real problem.”
The council spokesperson said they’re sorry for the disruption and are working on fixing the issues to ensure it doesn’t happen again. They also thanked residents for their efforts to recycle and reduce waste.