A CALL has been made to the council asking it to urgently investigate the recycling of used incontinence pads and nappies in the district.

The call has been made by leader of the Bradford Liberal Democrat group Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, following complaints from residents.

Cllr Sunderland said worried residents had been in touch about the issue of incontinence products disposal, and cited the system used by a council in the north Wales town of Conwy as a model Bradford could follow.

She said: “When the council moved to fortnightly collections I was asked by several residents about what should happen to incontinence pads.

“Residents were told to put them in the bins and they would be collected fortnightly along with the general waste.

“I was shocked but told there was no other option but to collect them fortnightly.

“With so many elderly people living at home with quite complex needs the change to fortnightly bins has become a real worry for residents who are unhappy about the smell and the extra weight in the bins.

“For some residents it is also a reminder of their health.”

One resident said: “It’s bad enough being 85 and incontinent without being reminded of it every time I have to go out to the bin.

“The people from the council were polite but said there was nothing they could do.”

Cllr Sunderland said that another resident, who cares for his elderly mother, has to store more than 40 products in his home ahead of his weekly trip to the tip for disposal, as he failed to get an extra bin for the products.

“The issue for me is what we do when people find themselves in this position,” said Cllr Sunderland.

“For the person who is incontinent it’s a matter of their dignity and for the carer they’re faced with a burden of moving heavy bins or going to the tip as well as caring for a loved one.

“As a council we want people to be cared for at home with dignity but our waste policy is not making it any easier for them.”

She said Conwy District Council offered a small lockable caddy for nappies following a trial to reduce the amount of nappies being sent to landfill.

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, executive member for Environment, Culture and Sport, said: “Bradford Council already has a procedure in place to support residents who produce a lot of waste, including materials such as incontinence products.

“Requirements are judged on an individual basis, with the option of providing a larger bin being possible.”