Telford inhabitant Mandy Gregory started up a fortnightly private collection service after becoming annoyed with Telford and Wrekin council, which collects waste and recyclables on alternate weeks.
To support her business, Mandy Gregory has applied to youth charity The Prince's Trust for a business loan. The Prince's Trust is still to make a decision on whether or not to allocate funds to Mrs Gregory. Before funds can be released, Mrs Gregory has been asked to fulfil a set of recommendations, which include having discussions with her local authority. If Mrs Gregory fulfils the defined criteria, The Trust has emphasised that it will consider all factors before making the final decision as to whether she will receive a Prince's Trust business loan.
Mrs Gregory purchased a second-hand dustcart and collects waste from residents who signed up to her “Wastebusters” scheme. The cost is 3 a week and she collects on the weeks when the council collects recycled goods rather than waste. She has signed up about 100 people to the scheme.
In a poll on letsrecycle.com, 75% of people who took part thought that it would be wrong of the Prince's Trust to fund a scheme that runs counter to the council's service, aimed at improving recycling in the area.
Mrs Gregory has also received criticism from the residents of Telford and Wrekin as well as from letsrecycle.com readers. The local newspaper, The Telford Journal, who gave her service extensive coverage, has received letters from members of the public vilifying the scheme.
In a letter to the newspaper on October 7, Telford resident Mrs G Vickers said: “My bin did not overflow and did not smell, these people should not be hailed as heroes but as failures. These are not waste busters, they are waste creators.”
Local householder Nicholas Haynes also vented his frustrations: “I offer my wholehearted support to Telford and Wrekin council's waste collection initiative. We are a household of four and I don't see any problems with fortnightly collection. These initiatives are being pushed from Europe and government, not Telford and Wrekin,” he said.
And Richard Camp, chairman of the Telford Recycling Group, also took a swipe at the scheme, pointing out that just 100 people out of 160,000 in Telford have signed up to the scheme.
The council has played down the impact Mrs Gregory will have on its recycling scheme. David Morgan, spokesman for the council said: “This service is not considered competition, but we have raised our concerns that as this is proposed to be a black sack collection as opposed to the use of wheeled bins there may be safety issues.”
Meanwhile Telford and Wrekin council has launched its new kerbside recycling collection vehicles. The investment in the new fleet is in partnership with contractors Telford & Wrekin Services.
Mrs Gregory was unavailable for comment.
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