Oadby and Wigston Council to Reduce Public Bin Numbers

A Leicestershire council has announced its intention to remove a quarter of its litter and dog waste bins, aiming to “maximise efficiency”. Oadby and Wigston Borough Council reported that it currently maintains 500 bins, which require a total of 1,350 individual collection visits per week. The Liberal Democrat-led authority explained that by decreasing the overall quantity of bins, it could prioritize the most frequently used ones and ensure their regular emptying. In response, the Conservative group on the council has launched a petition opposing the plan. Neil O’Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, stated that this action would result in more litter and overflowing bins. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council indicated that the existing service has become “increasingly unsustainable” over the past decade, primarily due to financial pressures and reduced staffing. Council leader Samia Haq commented: “We are committed to spending money wisely, and this is made all the more important by the severe financial pressure we, and other councils across the country, are currently under.” She added that “Careful consideration has been given to the locations where bins will be removed.” Haq further explained: “Routes will also become more efficient, and the team will now have better capacity to monitor the areas where bins fill up regularly and make extra collections when needed.” She concluded: “We’re always looking for ways to improve our services, and rather than spreading ourselves too thinly, this change will allow us to be more targeted and efficient in our litter bin collections, something that we know residents want from us.”