Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (21 011 638)
Category : Environment and regulation > Refuse and recycling
Decision : Upheld
Decision date : 09 Mar 2022
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: I have stopped investigating the complaint. The Council has agreed to reinstate Miss X’s weekly waste collections. This is a suitable remedy for the alleged injustice and further investigation will serve no useful purpose.
The complaint
- Miss X complains the Council has changed her waste collection from weekly to fortnightly without properly considering her circumstances.
- Miss X lives in a small flat with no outside space to store waste. As a result of the change to fortnightly collection, Miss X says she has to keep two weeks waste in her kitchen, which is unhygienic and attracts pests.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We can decide whether to start or discontinue an investigation into a complaint within our jurisdiction. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 24A(6) and 34B(8), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered the information Miss X and the Council provided.
- I referred to the Ombudsman’s Guidance on Remedies, a copy of which can be found on our website.
- Miss X and the Council had an opportunity to comment on my draft decision. I considered any comments received before making a final decision.
What I found
- The Council usually collects household waste in its area every two weeks. Miss X lives in a small flat with no outside space. She says that she and her neighbour, therefore, had their waste collected weekly.
- In 2021, Miss X asked the Council for some more bin bags. Following this request, the Council told Miss X it was changing her collections to fortnightly.
- Miss X complained to the Council. She said that having no outside space in which to store waste meant she had to keep bagged waste in her kitchen for two weeks. This was unhygienic, smelly, and attracted pests.
- In response to Miss X’s complaint, the Council said it had assessed her property and decided it was suitable for fortnightly collections. Miss X says no one visited her property or contacted her as part of this assessment.
- In response to my enquiries, the Council has agreed to reinstate Miss X’s weekly waste collections.
Final decision
- I have stopped investigating this complaint. The Council has agreed to remedy the alleged injustice so further investigation will serve no useful purpose.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman