WE will all remember the leaflets posted through our letterboxes and the adverts in the Warrington Guardian telling us that green garden waste bins would only be emptied if the collection charge was paid.

In fact there was another reminder in last week’s Guardian (July 20) about the green waste charge.

We were clearly told that stickers would be sent out to distinguish between those who had paid, and those who had chosen not to pay the new collection charge.

We were also told very clearly that bins without the sticker would not be emptied.

This is still clearly stated on the council website.

I am therefore very angry at the fact that since March, every fortnight I have witnessed green bins in my area without the ‘fee paid’ stickers being routinely emptied.

I have previously phoned up to ask why this was happening.

And I was assured that the people will have paid but will be waiting for their sticker!

Quite a wait since March me thinks.

Is there a sticker shortage in the town?

I was also told that each collection truck has access to a list stating which houses have paid the collection charge, and this list is checked when a sticker-less bin is found.

I have witnessed collection staff take the bin and empty it without any such checks.

Having seen this happen every collection day, I will be thinking twice next year about whether or not to pay the charge.

Those who have not paid but are receiving the service anyway are laughing while I and many other residents in this town have been totally mugged off by the council.

Makes me wonder if they were relying on the majority paying the collection fee but without having any intention of refusing to empty the green bins of those who didn’t pay.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED