Wigan Council

03/23/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/23/2023 11:04

Wigan Council waste amnesty days to go on borough-wide tour

A new Wigan Council environmental initiative will help residents dispose of their unwanted items with the schedule taking in the entire borough.

Starting from next month, each ward will host its own waste amnesty day with skips provided in central locations and council teams on hand to help out.

Residents will be able to come and drop off items like old and worn furniture and excess waste, all for free.

The initiative is in addition to the expansion of the free bulky waste collection service - announced by the local authority earlier this month - to help boost recycling rates and tackle fly-tipping.

Councillor Paul Prescott, cabinet portfolio holder for environment said: "Alongside the expanded bulky waste collections, the waste amnesty days will make it even easier for our communities to get rid of their waste in a responsible way.

"We are all responsible for keeping our borough clean, and as part of our new Litter Strategy we hope that these measures will reduce fly-tipping across our borough.

"Fly-tipping is not just expensive to clean up, requiring tax-payers money that could be better spent in other ways, it also damages our environment and can hurt or even kill local wildlife."

Wigan Council environment officers will be in attendance on each day ready to answer questions on recycling, offer advice on how to report littering and fly-tipping to the council and to highlight dangers of using unlicensed waste carriers.

The waste amnesty days will be part of a wider week of action in each ward, with a litter pick, street sweeping and other activities.

A ward in the west and east of the borough will be visited each week, with the exact locations of the skips to be advertised ahead of each waste amnesty day.

A full schedule will be published before the initiative starts next month.

Earlier this month, Wigan Council announced an increase of its current bulky waste collection service, to five large items- twice in a 12-month period, all for free.

The previous offer was for one collection of up to three items in the same period.

View more information about the bulky waste service and what items can be included.

Posted on Thursday 23rd March 2023