Leaflet distribution problem ruins “unwanted” green bin collection

Scores of residents in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Gifford have missed out on South Gloucestershire Council’s one-off collection of unused and unwanted green bins because of problems with the distribution of a leaflet that was supposed to give residents one week’s notice of the date on which the bins needed to be left out.

The December edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal, distributed on the weekend of Saturday 6th December, included an article that listed the collection dates, based on information published on the council’s website.

By the time residents received the magazine, they should have received a leaflet from the council confirming their collection date, but many readers complained on our website and Facebook page that had not received any communication from SGC.

Of those that had received a leaflet, some complained that the collection date on it did not match that listed for their area on the council’s website.

Other readers reported that they had put their bins out on the advertised day (Monday 8th December for Bradley Stoke South; Tuesday 9th December for Bradley Stoke North, Central and Stoke Lodge; Wednesday 10th December for Stoke Gifford), but they weren’t collected.

Some of the failed collections are believed to be attributable to the fact that parts of south Bradley Stoke actually lie within the Stoke Gifford ward of South Gloucestershire, meaning that residents unknowingly put their bins out on the wrong day.

Made aware of the issues surrounding the collections, South Gloucestershire Council provided the following statement:

“We apologise to any residents who have not had their unwanted green bin collected on the planned collection date.”

“We acknowledge there have been some problems with leaflet distribution in some areas of Bradley Stoke. As a result, we will be using a different method to notify residents about future collections in other parts of the district, which will take place in the New Year.”

“If you have not had your bin collected, please contact us by email at streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 868000 and give us your full postal address.”

“For further information on unwanted green bin collections, please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/unwantedbins“

This article originally appeared in the January 2015 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,450 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.