Skipton residents told to move their own bins

A COUNCIL is pushing ahead with plans to stop rubbish collectors moving bins which are not placed at the kerb side.

Skipton’s Craven Council says around 2,500 households currently leave wheelie bins for collection in places inaccessible to bin lorries.

In future these householders will be asked to place bins at collection points nearer to the kerb side.

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The changes follow advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which warned the council that workers were at risk of repetitive strain injuries.

Bin crews move up to 1,000 bins a day each.

The advice has previously been criticised by some councillors.

The authority’s policy committee has approved the changes and referred it to council for a final decision on Tuesday, October 7.

Affected householders will be contacted between October and March.

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Once confirmed, a rolling implementation will follow so that the whole process is up and running by the end of March.

Anyone who is physically unable to move their bins will be eligible for assistance under the Council’s existing Assist Scheme.

Councillor Carl Lis, the lead member for Greener Craven, said: “The council must comply with the HSE’s instructions for bin collections, in the same way that all the other councils in North Yorkshire have been doing for a long time.

“We are, however, committed to working with residents to identify the most sympathetic solution to differing sets of circumstances.” He also stressed that assistance would be available for those who needed it.

Affected residents will be advised about these changes no later than March. This information will also include details on how to qualify for the assist scheme.