A monthly bin collection is being rolled out in a Welsh county despite fears it will attract rats, seagulls and flies.
Rubbish bags will now only be collected once a month in Conwy county, following a new trial.
The decision has sparked outrage among residents who claim the move will attract pests.
Rubbish bags will now only be collected once a month in Conwy county, following a new trial. File photo
They said the rubbish builds up and causes a bad smell, breeds maggots and flies, and attracts mice, rats and seagulls.
Some residents have even admitted to burning their waste to get rid the enormous build of rubbish bags.
One resident told the BBC: ‘It’s the length of time that’s the problem, not the quantity.
‘It festers. It’s as simple as that. The whole area is plagued with flies now in the summer.
‘We’ve bought an incinerator so we burn the majority of the rubbish, which is not good for the environment.
One resident said he has spotted rates lurking around his bins as big as 40cm long.
Monthly collections means that rubbish builds up and causes a bad smell, breeds maggots and flies, and attracts mice, rats and seagulls
Colin Jones told the North Wales Pioneer: ‘There were two of them and they are obviously getting plenty of food because they were massive.
‘We have already gone to the four-weekly bin collections and it is a major issue because before this there weren’t this many rats.’
Dave Jewell said he spotted one at the rear of his house. He said: ‘Christmas all-year round for the rats and seagulls, and things will only get worse when the effects of the four-week bin collection are felt.’
But the council said the monthly bin collection could save the county £390,000 a year.
The council said the monthly bin collection could save the county £390,000 a year. File photo
It said food waste was collected weekly and it offered a free weekly collection service for nappies and – to reduce the build up of smelly rubbish.
And the council hopes the move will encourage more people to recycle instead of throwing rubbish to landfill.
Cllr Donald Milne, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Roads and Facilities told MailOnline ‘The key to making this a success and making sure that there is enough space in your rubbish bin is to make the best possible use of the recycling collections – particularly the weekly service for food waste.
‘I’d encourage everyone to check the list of things that can be recycled because it is now quite extensive.’
‘Most people in Conwy recycle, but before the trial we found that over half the contents of people’s bins could have been recycled.
‘Those lost materials ending up in landfill cost the community £1.6m every year.’