Monthly black bin collections could become the norm in one major city, in a move that has already sparked heavy backlash. Bristol City Council already has one the best recycling rates in the UK, with 45 per cent of household waste being recycled. However, the Green-led local authority has just launched a consultation on bold plans to switch from a two-weekly collection to once every four weeks. It argues doing so would save the council a whopping £2.3 million a year and reduce the 'impact on the environment'. Residents have until March 10 to express their support for the drastic change, or to object. Already, an online petition calling for the proposals to be scrapped has garnered more than 5,000 signatures at the time of writing - with organisers claiming monthly bin collections will have a 'disproportionate impact on larger families and households'.

"We need to recycle more, but materials that could be recycled are still being thrown away in our black bins which should be for non-recyclable waste only," Bristol Council said. "Our local analysis suggests that up to half of what is currently being thrown by households into their black non-recyclable bin is material that can be recycled. This includes food waste, paper and card, glass, plastic, cans, textiles and small electrical [items].

"Our aim is to increase the amount our city recycles to meet national targets and deliver real benefits for our city. To achieve this increase, we are seeking the views of Bristol residents on how we can achieve this increase whilst continuing to deliver value for money services and meet the needs of households across our city.". Taking to social media, hundreds of Brits slammed the idea, arguing it would increase fly-tipping and leave locals with 'stinky bins'. "Plague incoming," one person fumed on X (formerly Twitter). Another agreed, commenting: "They'll be overrun with rats come the summer. Ugh." A third branded the idea an 'absolute farce', while a fourth penned: "They need to supply two black bins or get ready for the fly-tipping, what a load of s**t.".

Despite the backlash, Bristol is not the first UK council to restrict bin collections. Many authorities now only collect general waste every three weeks, while Conwy County Borough Council became the first in the UK to introduce four-weekly bin collections back in 2019. According to the BBC, domestic waste recycled jumped from 3,160 tonnes between October and December 2017 to 3,522 tonnes in the same period of 2018 (the three months following the introduction of monthly collections). Resident Aloma Wheway told reporters she had witnessed an increase in fly-tipping since the change, along with a 'disgusting stench'.

Conwy council accepted fly-tipping had increased but denied it was due to monthly collections. A spokesperson argued smelly bins were due to residents putting the wrong waste in them, not the prolonged collections. Fife council in Scotland also garnered backlash after changing their brown collection, which is for food and garden waste, to every four weeks. Should councils go to monthly bin collections in your area? Have your say in the comments section below.