Rats Thrive as Bins Rot? Bristol’s Monthly Trash Plan Sparks Outrage

Bristol residents worry about rats and trash. They think a new plan is awful. The city might collect bins just once a month. People say the streets already have too much waste, and nearly 10,000 people signed a petition opposing the change.

One woman fears more rats due to the trash. She hears them in her home already and urged the council to rethink this “bonkers” idea. She added that sorting recycling is already hard, and now people must keep trash longer.

An artist plans to buy a trash compactor, costing £125, and wishes the council would provide them. The council aims to save money and boost recycling. The savings could be about £2.3 million.

One man said monthly collections are too long. He remembers weekly pickups. He recycles but does not want trash sitting around and also said they often skip some recycling.

Another person expects to be okay since he lives alone. He worries about large families though. He thinks their waste will overflow soon and sees it as a health risk; another resident fears a “rat army.”

Some people think illegal dumping will rise. A woman said the UK is going downhill, and a student called the plans “gross,” thinking the rats will cause problems.

One person thinks a rat problem will cost more. The bins overflow now every two weeks. Opposition wants better existing service. The council says carbon tax is a factor.

They say monthly bins avoid carbon tax costs. Three-weekly collections save money too. Some councils already have three-weekly collections, and Bristol’s plan could inspire others to switch.

The council offers larger bins to big families. Extra pickups are available for some items. Consultation runs until March 10. The city recycles about 45% of waste, and they want to reach 65% by 2035.

A council member gets complaints about current service. Recycling pickups are missed now, and people put recycling in the trash instead. This hurts recycling rates. The Sun asked the council for its view.