Dudley Council has apologised for the wave of missed and delayed bin collections hitting Kingswinford and the wider borough. Councillor Damian Corfield, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, admitted the disruption has been frustrating and said he is taking action to put things right.
Data from the Dudley Labour Group shows refuse collections are running 30% behind schedule, while food waste rounds lag by 47% and dry recycling by 74%. Green waste has fared worst, trailing by 84% as crews struggle with the volume. A depot incident at Lister Road on 10 June alone held up more than 30,000 collections, adding to the strain on a service that handles roughly 300,000 pick‑ups each week.
The turmoil follows the 6 April launch of a government‑mandated waste and recycling overhaul. Most households were required to receive new containers, including food caddies and blue wheeled bins, and by late April the council had already collected nearly 800 tonnes of food scraps. Dry recycling volumes have jumped by an estimated 25 to 30%, and the strong public response has overwhelmed vehicles, crews and scheduling.
Residents are urged to leave missed bins out and to report any collection failure via the council’s online form from 4pm on the due day. Extra vehicles have been brought in and collection rounds are being reworked to match real demand, with three‑quarters of routes now back on track.
Q: “I know how frustrating missed and delayed collections have been, and I sincerely apologise to residents affected. As Cabinet Member, I want to reassure you that we are taking action to put things right.”
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