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Stratford's new waste service starts on Monday but there are concerns for some users




A NEW waste collection service starts on Monday (1st August) aiming to provide a greener solution for the district… but there are concerns it could leave some residents facing a stink.

Stratford District Council is introducing its 123+ collection service alongside Warwick District Council. The service – contracted to Biffa Waste Services Ltd – will provide a weekly food waste collection, a fortnightly recycling collection and a three-week collection of rubbish in the black bins.

The aim is to make it easier for people to recycle food waste and reduce the amount sent to landfill and its impact on the environment, part of the district council’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis.

But changes to the black bin collection have sparked a wave of concern among some residents who have specific human waste needs, such as nappies and medical stomas to dispose of. They fear they could see human waste piling up for three weeks before it’s collected from bins that have been left in the summer sun.

John Conway from Welford with two of his SDC bins. Photo: Mark Williamson. (58260944)
John Conway from Welford with two of his SDC bins. Photo: Mark Williamson. (58260944)

This, they claim, could trigger a hygiene hazard for householders caused by flies and maggots.

While the council has said residents can claim a second black bin if they need more capacity, and has offered advice on dealing with nappies and stomas, councillors have been contacted by worried residents.

Stratford District Councillor Nigel Rock (Lib Dem, Napton and Fenny Compton) said he is working with colleagues to alert the district council to the difficulties that might lie ahead.

“I’m sure a lot of people are not aware of the changes so I’m trying to alert the council about this problem in a positive way so it can anticipate them and see what might be done to help,” he said. “People’s concerns have been raised with the portfolio holder, Cllr Ian Shenton. I know there are two things that always affect residents: one is planning and the other is waste collection. This is a substantial change and it needs a bit of sorting in a positive way before the scheme starts.”

He added that the move to a three-weekly collection period of the black or grey bin has caused concerns for residents who use this bin for colostomy stoma product disposal, adult incontinence products and infant nappies.

“Data suggests the number of colostomy/stoma users is low – around 380 across the distinct, less than 11 for each council ward. Disposable nappy users are greater at about 42 per council ward,” Cllr Rock said. That’s roughly 1,400 households.

John and Pauline Conway, from Welford, care for their disabled son, Matthew, 38, who is wholly reliant on his parents who are 75 and 70 respectively.

Matthew is incontinent and wears diapers which need to be changed regularly. The current fortnightly black bin collection, the family says, works although at times it’s not ideal because of flies and maggot infestations in the bin.

John says a three-week collection would amplify the family’s hygiene dilemma.

“The pads have been soiled and we put the pad in a nappy bag because you can’t flush them down a toilet. We then put them into another bag which we tie securely. I’m not the only one in this position as a carer,” John explained. “There are flies around the bin and flies coming into the house, especially with the weather we’ve had and they upset Mathew when they’re near him. My wife and I are no spring chickens which is why the fortnightly collection is ideal. These people that sit round a table haven’t got a clue what they’re talking about when they changed the black bin collection to three weeks.”

A Stratford resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they have a medical need which means a three-week black bin collection will lead to an increase in “hazardous waste”.

“I’ve had a stoma which means on average I put 20 stoma bags in the bin each week,” they said. “When the collection changes to three weeks that will mean a total of 60 stoma bags. When I’m at the hospital the bags are disposed of because they are called hazardous waste, it’s no different at home – it’s still hazardous waste and that’s the point I want to make. I do double wrap the bags but I can still smell them and think ‘phew.’ If it was collected weekly, like the food collection, that would be much better. I think it hasn’t been thought through properly.”

Carol Baggiolini from Priors Marston is the proud mother of a four-week-old baby and a daughter, aged four. Carol uses her black bin for the baby’s nappies and her daughter also needs a nappy at night. This adds up to 12-15 nappies per day.

She is frustrated by the lack of consultation from the council.

She told the Herald: “We never had any consultation or feedback. Stratford District Council should have asked the views of the people to potentially find a solution. What about the people looking after a disabled person in the family? It’s a commitment for life and probably involves ten nappy changes a day.

“I am very conscious about recycling and I emailed the council because I was concerned about waste building up for three weeks and the risk of insects and maggots. They told me to consider re-usable nappies, but I don’t have the time to wash them. We try to recycle everything but the three-week collection is not manageable because the pee makes the nappies increase in volume. I’ve now applied for another black bin which will help with the volume but not the smell. In Italy families are provided with a nappy bag which is collected once a week.”

Sally Diadoo from Fenny Compton has a stoma and is being treated for bowel cancer. Because of this treatment she has to change colostomy bags eight or nine times a day. She is very concerned about the changes.

“It is medical waste and it’s a health issue which I have to live with,” Sally said. “I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March and had an operation and I now have a stoma and there’s just too much waste for a three-weekly collection. I posted my concerns on the village website and four other people have responded with their worries about dog waste, nappies, cat litters and incontinence.

“I think there’s a risk of people taking their medical waste to public bins or fly tipping it at laybys, which will cost the council even more money to clear it up. I’ve spoken to the council and was told I could pay for an extra bin but that doesn’t solve the three-week wait to get one or two bins emptied of medical waste.”

Stratford District Council explained that additional black bins are available.

“Households with two or more children in disposable nappies, or six or more permanently living at the same address or with people with medical needs will be eligible for additional waste capacity (an additional 140-litre grey wheeled bin) as part of the new 123+ collection service,” the council said in a statement.

It also pointed parents to information on washable, reusable nappies at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cottonnappies.

The statement added: “This [waste serve] criteria has been successfully used at other local authorities which have moved to three-weekly refuse collections. It is advised that any ‘solids’ are emptied down the toilet and the disposable nappies are bagged and tied tightly before putting them in the grey bin to minimise smells. If people are still concerned, then we would advise that you wash your bin occasionally with washing up liquid and/or boiling water.

“Stoma bags on prescription come with a disposal bag and can be put in the grey bin. If users of stoma bags are concerned they can get flushable ones on prescription - these are closed bags which have a biodegradable inner liner. This can be peeled from the outer pouch and flushed down the toilet. The clean outer layer can be disposed of normally in a waste bin.”

Cllr Shenton, climate change portfolio holder at the district council, said: “The new 123+ system is aimed to encourage residents to reduce their waste by recycling as much as possible, but we do appreciate that households with children in nappies may also produce a large quantity of waste. Households with two or more children in disposable nappies permanently living at the same address will be able to request additional refuse capacity.

“To avoid smells, we recommend residents double bag all nappies and absorbent hygiene products and tie it tightly before putting in the grey bin, removing air to slow down decomposition. This type of waste is non-hazardous and poses no risk to human health. Any hazardous waste (such as swabs and dressing from infectious wounds) will continue to be collected weekly as part of our clinical waste service. If residents are concerned then I’d advise them to make contact with the council to look at all the options available to them.”



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