To: Central Bedfordshire Council & Dunstable Town Council

We, the undersigned residents, business owners and workers across Dunstable, petition the Council to urgently overhaul waste provision, restore reliable collections, and take firm action against fly‑tipping.

THE PROBLEMS WE SEE DAILY:

1. Insufficient bin capacity — mathematically too little 
A block of 12 apartments was allocated only 4 large commercial bins (1,100 litres each) — giving a total capacity of just 4,400 litres, or roughly 5–6 standard rubbish bags per flat. This is barely enough for normal household waste, even before considering bulky items or extra waste between collections. Waste overflows constantly — not because residents produce too much, but because the allocation is mathematically insufficient.

2. Surrounding businesses & flats have NO bins at all 
Worse still — some businesses and other residential flats surrounding this site have been given NO provision whatsoever. They have nowhere to put their waste legally.

3. Bulky items CANNOT go in bins — and legal options are nearly impossible 
Fridges, mattresses, sofas and furniture cannot be put in standard bins. Residents have only two legal options — and both fail flat dwellers:

• Council Bulky Waste Collection: Costs £72.50 per booking (up to £36.50 concessionary), with a waiting list of up to 5 weeks. This is unaffordable for many and far too slow.        

 

• Thorn Turn Recycling Centre (Tidy Tip): Free — BUT you MUST book online in advance, prove you live in the area, and have a car or permitted van to get there. Fridges are limited to ONE per household per year. Most flat dwellers have no vehicle, no lift, no help to carry heavy items downstairs, and cannot make a booking.

 

4. Irregular collections make it worse 
Collections are often late, missed entirely, or too infrequent. By the time crews arrive, every bin is already full — leaving nowhere for new waste to go.

5. Under‑provision DIRECTLY causes fly‑tipping 
When bins are full, unavailable, or too few; when the tip is unreachable; and when paid collections cost £72.50 plus a 5‑week wait — waste has nowhere legal to go. It gets dumped. This is not a failure of residents — it is a failure of service.
 
WHAT WE PAY — AND WHAT WE ARE OWED

Residents across Dunstable pay over £23 million annually through Council Tax for waste services — approximately £166 per household every year. Most flats and smaller properties — typically in Bands A, B and C — pay less than the average Band D rate, yet receive the worst service. We pay our fair share — but receive only a fraction of what we pay for.
 
WE DEMAND — IMMEDIATELY:

✅ Enough bins for ALL properties — calculated on actual occupancy, not an arbitrary minimum. The current ratio of one 1,100L bin per 3 flats is proven insufficient.

✅ Proper bins for businesses & flats currently with NONE — basic provision for every property, no exceptions.

✅ Reliable, on‑time collections — consistent schedules, clear advance notice, and missed waste collected within 48 hours.

✅ Affordable bulky waste options — review the £72.50 fee, reduce waiting times, and provide a realistic service for residents without transport.

✅ Swift action on fly‑tipping — remove dumped waste quickly, enforce the law, and tackle the CAUSE (insufficient bins) not just the mess.

✅ Review tip rules — consider lifting the 1‑fridge‑per‑year limit and exploring collection alternatives for those without vehicles.
 
This is not a funding shortage — it is an allocation failure.
We call on Central Bedfordshire Council and Dunstable Town Council to respond within 28 days and hold a public meeting in Dunstable to discuss these issues.