Petition to reinstate fortnightly bin collections

A petition has been launched to save fortnightly bin collections following changes to kerbside waste removal.

The campaign opposes Wiltshire Council's plans to reduce the collection of residual household waste from once a fortnight to once every three weeks from 2027.

A cross-party group of Calne-based county and town councillors launched the 'Say No to 3-Weekly Bins' initiative, which has received more than 1,200 signatures.

The authority says it can save £3.4m with the scheme, but campaigners argue it "ignores the day‑to‑day realities" and places "an additional burden on residents".

It comes alongside the news that council tax is set to rise by 4.99%, which will see an average Band D household paying about £7.84 more per month.

Weekly food waste collections and soft plastics recycling are also set to be introduced in a bid to reduce black bin waste, the council said.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the campaigners behind the group are councillors Augusta Urquhart-Nicholls, Ashley O'Neill, and Mike Sankey.

They argue the move will hurt "those least able to absorb the impact," including elderly people managing chronic illness, families with young children, carers supporting relatives with disabilities, and households already under financial strain.

"The move is being marketed as environmentally and fiscally responsible, but it ignores the day‑to‑day realities that many people are living with," said Urquhart-Nicholls.

"Reducing services while increasing the financial burden on residents will not encourage them to be better custodians of the planet, it will only breed resentment.

"Just because other councils are doing it, doesn't make it the right thing to do. Good environmental policy supports people, it doesn't punish them."

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