DISGUSTED residents have described scenes of filth after bins were left uncollected by Bradford Council.

The problems appear to have reared their head after fortnightly collections were brought in.

Bradford was the last authority in West Yorkshire to abandon weekly collections.

A handful of authorities in the UK have now switched to three-weekly, or even four-weekly, general waste rounds, as the cost of landfill tax has been on the rise.

Under the new system, green bins are emptied one week and grey bins the next.

People are able to put all their recyclables into one bin and are also able to recycle more items, such as drinks cartons.

But residents from across Bradford say they have experienced problems, with one person describing “cesspit” conditions.

Iqy Hussain said there had been no bin collections on Duckworth Lane for three weeks, despite repeated calls to the Council.

The rubbish was eventually collected on Thursday, but Mr Hussain said: “There was a disgusting overflow of rubbish onto pavements, and rats and mice have been seen.

“Rubbish was also set on fire, including a bin close to an electrical box.”

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, described the situation in Dirkhill Road, Great Horton, as “like the third world”.

He said: “The area is choc-a-bloc with overflowing bins, and they are now being tipped over into the road.

“The Council keep saying they are going to come out and clear it, but they’re not.

“People are getting irate.

“The entire area is a cesspit overflowing with trash.

“It’s been three weeks since the bins were emptied, it’s disgusting.”

A resident of Princeville Street, Lidget Green, emailed to complain about the fortnightly bin collection, saying the smell was “absolutely vile” and “not for human intake”.

She said: “The Council needs to take pride in their city and not put the city down with wrong decisions.”

Problems were also reported in Providence Street, in Bradford city centre.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “We apologise for any missed collections. The move to alternate weekly collections is a significant change for both residents and the Council. The first phase which took place earlier this year is working well.

“The second and larger phase started earlier this month and the changes require a bedding-in period.

“Unfortunately in this period there may be some delayed and missed collections but should residents experience missed collections, where we become aware of them, we will do our best to collect on the following day.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Culture, added: “The new collection arrangements will take time to bed in, but we are already seeing increased levels of recycling.

“I would like to thank residents for their efforts to recycle more and minimise rubbish, and for their patience as these new collection changes settle down.”

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