A CHANGE of heart on scrapping weekly bin collections across Middlesbrough has been officially agreed.

Leaders revealed they would not introduce fortnightly pick-ups for 57,000 households in the borough next April, after a u-turn on the decision last week.

The council’s executive officially ratified keeping things as they are until April 2022 at their latest meeting, on December 22. 

But Middlesbrough’s Mayor Andy Preston has warned they can’t promise weekly collections will last forever. 

Mr Preston said the town “wasn’t ready” for the move yet – adding fortnightly collections weren’t something leaders wanted to bring in.

The independent mayor added: “What we wanted to do was save money so we could fund other vital services – and find a way of reducing our carbon footprint and upping our recycling rates.

“None of the executive was really keen.

“A lot of people felt the same way – but out of necessity we voted to go for fortnightly.

“As more clarity over our finances came and discussions got going, we found we could definitely continue to fund a weekly collection in the short term.”

Higher use of takeaways during the pandemic, rises in fly tipping and milder winters bringing a rise in rat populations were reasons given for keeping weekly collections.

Mr Preston told colleagues covid some areas in the town would have handled the change badly – before revealing new recycling targets for Middlesbrough would be revealed “in the next three weeks”. 

“We’re on a mission to reduce our carbon footprint and up our recycling rates but Middlesbrough isn’t ready for fortnightly collections,” he added. 

Bins are picked up fortnightly in neighbouring Redcar and Cleveland – and the initial plan was to move to alternating collections in the town to save £322,000 and boost Middlesbrough’s poor recycling rates.

Surveys revealed the move was unpopular – with more than half of people who responded believing they would generate too much waste for their bin to cope for 14 days. 

Almost two-thirds of the 3,309 people who responded were worried about bad smells from their bins and gathering waste attracting vermin. 

Extra cash has allowed the status quo to remain until spring 2022 at least. 

But questions remain over whether the option will return to the table later next year.

Cllr Dennis McCabe told executive colleagues long discussions led to the decision being reversed.

The executive member for the environment said: “We’re going to bring in an educational programme over the next 12 months to increase recycling rates for fortnightly collections.

“This will only go ahead if we can substantially increase our recycling rates.”

Chiefs confirmed people can request to have two recycling bins if they want an extra receptacle. 

Deputy mayor Cllr Antony High said the reversal of the decision showed they had “listened to the town”. 

Mr Preston added: “None of us are scared of changing our minds.  “If people want to criticise or call it a u-turn, or chickening out, I couldn’t give a monkeys.

“What’s important is we do the right thing and when there is new information we reserve the right to change our minds.

“We can’t promise it will last forever but we will try and make it last forever.  “The challenge is to keep finding the money and get our recycling rates up.”

The u-turn was welcomed across the town’s political spectrum last week. 

Labour councillor Janet Thompson thanked the mayor for “listening to the people”. 

“The consultation showed people didn’t want this – so well done for sticking to fortnightly collections,” she added.

 

But collections due on New Year’s Day will be moved back to Monday, January 4.

Collections will return to normal from Tuesday, January 5.