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OUR RUBBISH SERVICE

Fed-up residents forced into action as bin collections get worse — as one man took his rubbish to a relative for three months

More than four in five investigations into complaints about rubbish were upheld by the Local Government

Fed-up residents are being forced into drastic action as bin collections get worse.

One desperate man had to take his rubbish to a relative for three months.

 Investigations found issues including repeated missed collections, rarer bin rounds, poor complaint handling and problems helping disabled residents
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Investigations found issues including repeated missed collections, rarer bin rounds, poor complaint handling and problems helping disabled residentsCredit: Getty Images - Getty

And a woman rang her council every fortnight for 12 weeks until her rubbish was finally picked up.

The cases are in a report showing more than four in five investigations into gripes were upheld — compared to an average 53 per cent for other council complaints.

There are fears rising privatisation is to blame.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Michael King said: “Councils can contract out their waste service, but they cannot wash their hands of it.

“They are responsible and accountable for delivering those services, and for putting things right when they go wrong. Outsourced should not mean out of touch.”

The Local Government Association said: “Almost 80 per cent of people are happy with the way their bins are collected.”

 In one instance, a man had to take his rubbish to a relative for more than three months because the council failed to collect it
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In one instance, a man had to take his rubbish to a relative for more than three months because the council failed to collect itCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 The ombudsman receives around 500 complaints and inquiries about bin services each year
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The ombudsman receives around 500 complaints and inquiries about bin services each yearCredit: Andrew Fox - The Times