🧾 Who is the petition directed to?

Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council

 

📢 What do you want them to do?

We urge the council to halt the rollout of the three-tier wheelie box recycling system, reinstate the blue bin system, and launch a full public consultation before making any further changes to household waste collection.

 

✍️ Petition Description:

Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council is replacing the current blue mixed recycling bin with a new three-tier wheelie box system—despite widespread public dissatisfaction with similar schemes in other areas.

 

We, the undersigned, believe this change is impractical, costly, and unwanted by the majority of residents. This scheme has already failed in other councils, including:

 

🛑 Councils That Have Reversed This System:

Denbighshire County Council (Wales) scrapped its trolley box scheme in 2024 after widespread complaints. Residents reported overflowing boxes, littering, and a confusing system. The scheme also led to unexpected costs—£640,000 in just a few months and £1 million more per year to operate. Local MP Dr James Davies called it “one of the worst decisions the council has ever made.”

 

Mid & East Antrim Borough Council (Northern Ireland) has formally agreed to revert back to a single blue wheelie bin system by 2026/27 following low satisfaction and persistent complaints from residents about the wheelie box design, capacity, and usability.

 

 

So why is Antrim & Newtownabbey pushing ahead with a model already proven to be flawed and expensive?

 

❌ Why We Oppose the Wheelie Box System:

 

Too small and impractical – The compartments do not hold enough recycling for many families.

 

Hard to use and move – Elderly, disabled, or mobility-impaired residents face additional barriers.

 

Causes street litter – Trolley boxes are prone to tipping over in windy conditions.

 

Confusing and inconvenient – Sorting materials into separate compartments creates more work for residents.

 

Lack of public consultation – Residents were not given a fair chance to vote or voice their opposition.

 

Wasted public money – Similar schemes have cost other councils tens of millions of pounds with no long-term benefit.

 

 

✅ We Demand:

1. An immediate halt to the rollout of the wheelie box system.

 

2. A transparent breakdown of all costs associated with the new scheme—past, present, and projected.

 

3. The option to retain or reinstate blue wheelie bins, especially for those who find the new system unsuitable.

 

4. A full public consultation so residents can have their say before any future changes are implemented.

 

 

This system has already been abandoned by other councils that recognised it as a failure. Antrim & Newtownabbey should not repeat those mistakes.

 

📢 If you support common-sense recycling, value for money, and respect for resident voices, please sign and share this petition.

 

#KeepOurBlueBins

#AntrimAndNewtownabbey

#WheelieBoxBacklash

#PublicMoneyPublicSay