Bin service paused after 'contractor doubled price'

A council has said collections of dry recycling were suspended after a contractor tried to double the price of processing the rubbish.

People living in the Central Bedfordshire Council area were told on Saturday not to put their orange and green-lidded recycling bins out for collection until further notice.

The council leader, Adam Zerny, said the authority decided it was "not going to stand for" the price increase.

Zerny said he hoped the disruption would only last "a few days". The contractor is being contacted for comment.

Dry recycling includes paper, cardboard, plastic, metal and glass.

The Independent-led council said it had two waste contractors - one collected the waste and handed over to the other contractor, who processed it.

There was no issue with the contractor who handled collection, the authority said.

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, Zerny said the processing contractor had "told the council with extremely short notice that they wish to more than double the price that they charge for this service".

"So the council has, in this position, made the decision that ultimately they're not going to stand for this and they have told them no and they will try and find someone else," said Zerny, an Independent Alliance councillor.

Zerny added that he hoped the disruption would last "only a few days" and there would be "minor disruption" for people who would "usually have their dry recycling collected over the next couple of days".

The council has advised residents they can book a slot at their local household waste recycling centre, which will take cardboard, paper, tins and cans for recycling.

Or, they can store their recycling at home until collections are resumed.

Zerny said council staff were "very much aware that this is a pain for residents".

"Eight per cent of the council tax goes on waste and people rightly expect to get good service," he said.

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