BOLTON Bolton Council runs out of food waste bags

Bolton Council has run out of plastic recycling bags which form a vital part of food waste collections for tens of thousands of households.

The small, green biodegradable bags are issued to households to collect food waste which are then placed in small green caddies for fortnightly collection by bin crews.

However, many residents have not been issued with replacement collection bags for more than two months, with the council blaming ‘delays within our supply chain’ affecting the whole of the UK.

Rumours circulated that the council had stopped issuing the bags permanently due to cutbacks but the council has said that is not the case.

Harper Green councillor Sue Haworth contacted the council’s waste management department after the issue was raised with her by residents eager to comply with the recycling procedures but who were not being issued with the bags.

She said: “Residents all over the borough are saying they’ve been without council small green waste bags for six to eight weeks. They’re very frustrated.

“There’s a rumour mill that this supply could be axed for good due to yet more council cuts.

“One resident told me they’ve heard from staff that the supply will return in mid October.

“So many people do brilliantly with the food waste bins.

“The last thing we want is residents breaking good habits and going back to the old ways of using the grey bin.”

Cllr Haworth said she has received a reply from waste and recycling officers at Bolton Council that she was happy to share with residents.

Bolton Council said it was not known when supplies of the bags would be reinstated to households.

It stated: “There are no current plans to cut the budget for food liners at the moment.

“However, we are currently experiencing delays within our supply chain which is affecting the UK.

“We are working hard to source further stock however, delivery times are unknown at this time.

“We are therefore asking residents to continue to leave a bag tied to the handle of your green bin as

“This will alert the crew to leave some for you once our stock has been replenished.”

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