Data obtained through freedom of information laws highlights a significant issue with missed bin collections in the South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council areas. Between 2019 and 2024, a total of 86,474 bins were not collected as scheduled, with South Oxfordshire accounting for 50,707 of those and Vale of White Horse for 35,767.
Ian Snowdon, a Didcot ward councillor and Conservative shadow cabinet member for place and environment service, has criticized the councils for their handling of the situation. He urged the Liberal Democrat cabinet to prioritize resolving this issue rather than deflecting responsibility.
Mr. Snowdon stated: “Since the Liberal Democrats assumed control of both Vale and South Oxfordshire councils, there has been a noticeable shift from residents’ priorities to councillors’ personal ideological priorities. They have not held developers to their planning conditions nor delivered on infrastructure projects and essential services like waste management.”
In response, the councils noted that in 2024 alone, their crews collected 15,168,304 bins, with the 14,000 missed bins amounting to just 0.09 percent of the total collections. Additionally, they pointed out that 73 percent of the missed bins were collected within 48 hours of the issue being reported.
The Freedom of Information request specifically identified Wellington Street and Kings Close in Thame, along with Reading Road in Wallingford, as areas with the highest number of missed collections. Despite these issues, the overall trend shows only a slight increase in missed collections in South Oxfordshire and no significant change in Vale of White Horse over the five-year period.
Both councils shared a statement emphasizing their commitment to reliable bin collections: “Each year, our crews empty 15 million bins across the two districts, including bins for food waste, recycling, rubbish, and garden waste. Although a small proportion are occasionally missed, we’re working continuously with our teams to reduce these instances and ensure residents receive the expected service.”
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