Stockport Council has apologised and set out a plan to recover nearly 900 missed bin collections after residents were left without fortnightly refuse and recycling collections last week.
Why collections were missed
The problem followed a reminder issued to staff employed by Totally Local Company (TLC), which operates the borough's bin rounds, to refuse to collect bins with lids open. That instruction — already part of the council’s health and safety rules — was applied more strictly than usual, leaving people whose lids were only slightly ajar without a service.
Cabinet member Jake Austin acknowledged the council failed to alert residents before crews applied the policy more rigorously and said lessons will be learned. A council spokesperson has since published details of how crews will catch up this weekend, while making clear that overfilled bins still will not be taken.
“The lack of communication around the implementation of this change was clearly unacceptable. Residents and councillors should have been made aware and been prepared in advance, and I am sorry that did not happen,”
What the council is asking residents to do
Those who were missed between 21 and 24 July have been identified by the authority. The council is asking affected households to present their missed blue or black bin by 6am on Saturday 1 August. If the bin is still not collected then, crews will return later.
- Do not overfill bins — overfilled containers will not be collected.
- Ensure lids are fully closed where possible to avoid further missed collections.
- If you believe you were missed in the specified date range, present your bin by 6am on Saturday.
The reminder to crews was intended to keep bin operatives safe. The council cited a serious injury to a collection worker in 2016 when a bin fell from the back of a vehicle, as background to the safety-first approach. Opposition councillors have criticised the timing and communication of the change, describing the situation as farcical.
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of missed collections | Nearly 900 |
| Dates affected | 21–24 July |
| Catch-up action | Present missed bin by 6am, 1 August — crews will revisit if still missed |
For residents, the immediate effect has been frustration and practical inconvenience. Household refuse and recycling are routine services people rely on, and lapses can cause hygiene concerns, particularly over warmer weather. The council says it has a record of those affected and is prioritising catching up while reiterating the safety reasons for the policy.
Those unsure whether they were included in the record should contact the council's waste services for clarification. The authority has promised to improve communication so that future changes with significant impact are shared in advance.
