THURROCK Council has changed its bins collection policy and is to have a blitz of brown bin collections – but will temporarily stop collecting blue recycling bins.

The change is a U-turn on previous policy where recycling has been prioritised and Thurrock Nub News has been told the switch is on the instruction of environment portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Jefferies in a bid to placate angry residents who have seen their brown bins effectively made redundant by the council's inability to reorganise its waste collection services.

Across the borough there has been widespread social media criticism of the sustained lack of collection of brown bins.

The switch has been branded a 'pre-election gimmic'k by opposition party members who say Cllr Jefferies' hand has been forced by the amount of opposition Conservative election candidates are meeting on the borough's doorsteps.

Nub News has also been contacted by staff members and a union representative, saying the change is being forced through in breach of existing working arrangements with staff.

A statement issued today (Friday, 21 April) by the council says: "Brown bins are being collected across the borough next week from Monday, 24 April. We will be collecting all brown bins whether you are week 1 or week 2.

"Please put your brown bin out from early on Monday 24 April and leave it out – it will be collected as soon as possible. 

"General refuse will be collected as usual.

"We have put this temporary plan in place for next week to collect any garden waste which has built up in your bins. We are working hard to provide a consistent service and we apologise for any inconvenience.

"Due to staffing levels, we are pausing recycling collections for one week to be able to collect brown bins. The recycling from your blue bin will now be collected from Tuesday 2 May. For information about the changes to waste collections please visit our wheeled bin collection days page.  

"For up-to-date information on what should go in your bins please visit thurrock.gov.uk/bins."

Thurrock Council Labour group leader Cllr John Kent says he believes the switch in policy is a cynical, pre-election gimmick.

"We have found a huge amount of disquiet on doorstep[s across the borough from residents who are appalled by the poor level of waste colletions services.

"Nowhere has this been more apparent than in South Ockendon, where Cllr Jefferies is desperately trying to defend his seat. 

"We have been told that he has not taken the advice of officers, he has demanded this change be made despite the council being supposed to prioritise recycling because of government targets. 

"It is purely and shamelessly a bid to try and win back votes that have been lost because of the folly of this administration and its shocking level of failure in managing waste collection. It's simply a pre-election gimmick.

"Cllr Jefferies has repeatedly pledged to reform and reshape the bins collection service and he said they have a plan to do it.

"Now that he is at risk of losing his seat the plan's out of the window and it's save our seats – not save our bins service! This is a panicking administration desperate to do anything it can to stay in power.

"No doubt we will have a shameless Tory election leaflet out soon telling us how they have saved the brown bins and how wonderful they are for doing it."

Cllr Jefferies has been invited to comment but has not responded.