Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a missed recycling collection as the injustice caused to him from this is not sufficient to warrant our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council did not collect hi recycling waste and that he had to buy clear bags to store the excess in until his next collection.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe the injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Mr X said in his complaint and I have sent him my draft decision on it for his comments.

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What I found

4. Mr X complains the Council did not collect his recycling and that he had to buy clear bags to hold the excess that accumulated until his next collection date. Mr X is unhappy as he says he pays council tax for this not to happen.

Analysis

5. Mr X describes inconvenience and annoyance that he has experienced but this does not represent a level of injustice, from our perspective, that would warrant our involvement. We will not therefore investigate.

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Final decision

6. My decision is we will not investigate this complaint as Mr X is not caused a significant level of injustice from it.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman