According to the study, published today (July 3) by Esure Home Insurance, householders have seen a 39% increase in wasps, a 23% increase in squirrels, a 17% increase in mice, and a 12% increase in rats since the collections were introduced.
There are no pests I know of that can chew through a rigid bin, or lift its lid
Joan Ruddock
As a result, many of the 1,000 residents surveyed blamed alternate weekly collections and 52% said they were “angered by their council's decision to decrease their refuse collections”.
Particular problems were thought to have arisen because 37% of householders said they forgot to leave out their waste for collection at least once every other month and another 37% admitted to over-filling their bins and leaving out side-waste in black bin bags.
However, today, minister for waste, biodiversity and climate change, Joan Ruddock, insisted that wheeled bins should be secure enough to prevent pests.
She said: “Local authorities are advised that alternate bin collection should only be introduced where rigid bins are in use. There are no pests I know of that can chew through a rigid bin, or lift its lid.”
Mrs Ruddock highlighted an alternative report earlier this year which pointed to the opposite conclusion.
She said: “In February this year the Chairman of the National Pest Technician Association reported that there is no direct link between rat infestation and alternate weekly collection. Barrie Sheard said 'So long as wheelie bins are not overflowing with lots of side rubbish then you will not have a problem'. I suspect he knows more about pests than Esure does.”
The Local Government Association also disagreed with Esure's findings and said they conflicted with other studies on the subject.
A spokesman said: “This has to be taken with a large dollop of salt. The biggest independent research commissioned by the government found no evidence that alternate weekly collections have any health impact for residents. The tests were carried out in both winter and summer to give the full picture.”
Defra report
Last year a Defra report examining the health effects of alternate weekly collections, carried out by specialists at the Cranfield University Centre for Resource Management and Efficiency and Enviros Consulting Ltd, said that numbers of positive vermin sightings were low.
It stated: “The numbers of positive vermin sightings reported in the residents' survey were very low. This means that we can't be sure whether there were significantly more sightings under the alternate week collection scheme than the weekly collection scheme.”
It said that further investigation would be required to be sure vermin problems had not increased but concluded that there were a number of things residents could do to prevent problems with pests.
These included disinfecting waste containers as needed, ensuring that no waste is exposed, and ensuring all containers with kitchen waste are kept closed.
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