A new campaign opposing plans to introduce three-weekly bin collections in Wiltshire has been launched by councillors representing the Calne area.
The cross-party group, called Say No to 3-Weekly Bins, has been set up in response to Wiltshire Council’s proposal to change residual waste collections from fortnightly to once every three weeks from 2027.
Under the plans, weekly food waste collections would be introduced alongside soft plastics recycling. The council has previously argued that these measures will significantly reduce the amount of rubbish placed in general waste bins.
However, the Calne-area councillors behind the campaign say the changes would place additional strain on households and risk wider impacts on neighbourhood cleanliness.
Cllr Augusta Urquhart-Nicholls, Cllr Ashley O’Neill and Cllr Mike Sankey have joined forces to oppose the proposals.
Cllr Urquhart-Nicholls told Calne News: "Enough is enough. This plan to slash bin collections from fortnightly to three-weekly is yet another kick in the teeth for hard-working families in Calne.
"On top of the uncertainty hanging over our household recycling centre, cutting collections like this will only pile more stress onto local families who rely on a proper waste service. I certainly don't want to be storing dirty nappies for 21 days."
The campaign is also raising concerns about proposals affecting household recycling centres, including changes at Lower Compton and the introduction of a county-wide booking system.
Campaigners argue that requiring households to store residual waste for up to 21 days, particularly during warmer months, could lead to overflowing bins, increased fly-tipping and pest problems in residential areas.
The group has launched a social media campaign and says a formal petition to Wiltshire Council will follow.
The issue was debated at last week’s Wiltshire Council budget meeting, where an attempt to remove the planned savings associated with three-weekly collections was voted down.
The Liberal Democrat-led administration has previously said that introducing weekly food waste collections and expanding recycling options would reduce the volume of residual waste, allowing collection intervals to be extended while delivering savings of around £3.4 million per year.
Meanwhile, councillors are set to review the outcome of a recent trial in Chippenham, where households were asked to separate recycling into three bins rather than two as part of efforts to improve recycling rates.
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