Hundreds of households across Stockport woke on collection day to find their wheelie bins still at the kerb after crews refused to empty containers with lids left open. The council cabinet member responsible for waste services has apologised as the authority and its contractor review what went wrong.
What happened
The issue arose after a July reminder sent to Totally Local Company (TLC), which carries out bin collections for Stockport, reiterated an existing rule: crews should not collect wheelie bins if the lid is open. While the restriction is not new, the recent strict enforcement of it resulted in almost 900 bins being left uncollected.
Council response and reasons given
In an email shared with councillors and seen by the press, Councillor Jake Austin, who oversees the service, said he was investigating the circumstances and pledged transparency about the causes. The council says the rule exists for the safety of operatives: mechanics on collection vehicles can fail when lids are not fully closed or are missing, increasing the risk of dropped bins and spillage.
"As many of you will already be aware, the policy on bin lids needing to remain closed during collections has been long-standing, and is there to ensure the safety of waste operatives. The mechanics of how the bins are collected can fail when a lid is not fully closed or is missing."
The council referenced a serious incident in 2016 when a Stockport bin worker suffered significant injuries after a bin dropped from the back of a lorry, explaining the reason for strict adherence to safety guidance.
Local reaction
Residents left waiting for collections expressed frustration, describing themselves as "blindsided" by the change in practice. Opposition councillors criticised the Liberal Democrat-led authority for the disruption, with at least one calling the situation a "farce" from their perspective.
- Approximate number affected: 900 bins not collected
- Operator: Totally Local Company (TLC)
- Policy focus: bins must have lids closed for collection
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bins reportedly uncollected | Nearly 900 |
| Responsible cabinet member | Councillor Jake Austin |
| Contractor | Totally Local Company (TLC) |
The council says it is reviewing how the instruction was communicated to crews and the public to ensure a repeat does not happen. Officials also emphasised their duty to keep waste operatives safe while working in traffic and handling heavy equipment.
What residents should know
At present the council maintains the closed-lid rule as a safety requirement. Households concerned about missed collections should check the council's website or contact the waste services team for guidance on next steps and any contingency collections being arranged.
As the investigation continues, councillors have been promised a full and transparent account of how the enforcement change came to be applied so widely and what measures will be put in place to avoid similar disruption.
