Sunderland Conservatives are calling upon Sunderland City Council to introduce emergency measures for rapid collection of missed bins.
It was announced on Thursday that residents across the city will not have their general waste bins emptied for a month, angering residents in areas including Roker, Fulwell, Barnes and Washington.
The plan to allow household waste to build up for four weeks has caused concerns about fly tipping incidents, rubbish accumulating in back lanes, and the potential for waste to attract vermin.
Local Conservatives are calling on the Council to arrange to collect missed bins as soon as possible and to develop an adverse weather strategy so that bins are not missed in future when there is snow. This strategy must consider the inclusion of bin collection routes in the gritting schedule.
Cllr James Doyle, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group and Shadow Environment Spokesman, said:
"The Council must act now to ensure this situation does not spiral out of control.
"It is simply not good enough that residents, many of whom are working from home and homeschooling, are being asked to wait a month for their next bin collection.
"With a hefty Council Tax rise on the horizon, taxpayers in Sunderland expect - and deserve - better."
Sam Johnston, Conservative candidate for St Peter's and Roker resident, said:
“Residents should not be made to wait a fortnight to have their bins emptied.
"If the Council can find extra capacity to provide an emergency collection for some residents, then it must do it for all residents.
“The current situation is frankly unacceptable. Asking residents to pile up bags of rubbish on their properties and in back lanes risks a return of the rat problem that we’ve only just got under control after months of work.”
