![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_UKs-first-green-slum-where-eco-policies-have-backfired-creating-more-litter-and-overflowing-bin.jp.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nLocals are demanding action on communal bins that attract fly-tipping and vermin<\/p>\n
Pavlos, who builds timber frames and eco-buildings, says this cycle of “endless waste” is not an isolated incident – as it occurs every week and sometimes everyday.<\/p>\n
He says campaigning over the years has been “very frustrating” – as he claims Bristol waste and the green party have passed on the blame to each other.(Image: William Dax \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n
Residents in St Pauls, Bristol say they are fed up with foul smelling rubbish and litter building up around communal bins<\/a> in their neighbourhood. As reported by Bristol Live, locals are urging Bristol City Council<\/a> to scrap the large communal bins and introduce a new waste collection system. Residents say the oversized bins encourage fly tipping and attract vermin, warning the area risks becoming the UK\u2019s first \u201cgreen slum\u201d if the situation continues.<\/p>\n The communal bins were introduced in 2011 after concerns that narrow pavements could not accommodate individual wheelie bins. They were later replaced with large \u201cmini recycling centres\u201d placed on street corners. The council, run by the Green Party of England and Wales, has acknowledged it is considering reducing the number of communal bins or removing them altogether. In the meantime, residents say overflowing rubbish, fly tipping and vermin remain a constant problem.<\/p>\n Local resident Pavlos Kyriacou, 61, has been campaigning for changes for three years. He says the system allows rubbish to pile up quickly in a small number of large skips rather than being collected house by house like in most areas. Once the bins fill up, he says bags are left on top or beside them, attracting birds, rats and foxes and leaving litter scattered across the street.<\/p>\n Pavlos says he has repeatedly contacted the council, Bristol Waste Company and local councillors but believes little has changed.<\/p>\n Green councillor Izzy Russell apologised after mistakenly telling residents the bins would be reviewed by a council task group. She said work is under way but admitted it is taking longer than expected. At a recent meeting, Bristol\u2019s head of waste Ken Lawson said a review by Bristol Waste is expected soon. It will examine ways to reduce the number of communal bins and consider long term options for removing them altogether.<\/p>\n The council is also exploring whether landlords could be required to provide bin storage on their own properties instead of relying on street side communal bins. Proposals are expected to go before councillors later this summer.<\/p>\n Commenter Recovergirl says: \u201cIt\u2019s not just St Pauls that\u2019s been forgotten. Here in Lockleaze I haven\u2019t seen a bin collection for three weeks and kept being fobbed off by BCC. There are rats in some of the bin cupboards, which never seem to get cleaned if you live in the flats. Lockleaze feels completely neglected. And that\u2019s before even mentioning the potholes in some of the side streets.\u201d<\/p>\n Couldn’t make it up sympathises: \u201cI’m not surprised they’re upset. Imagine having an open rubbish dump next to your house, encouraging fly tipping. No one votes for that to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Warren C adds: \u201cWhen I lived in Portugal everywhere had communal bins, you could literally dump anything. BUT, there were no issues as the local authorities collect everyday except Sundays, in the winter.\u201d<\/p>\n Ron Y thinks: \u201cThese residents are going to have a long fight against complacent council officers to get any kind of change in local conditions. Bristol is really two cities in one and council officers prefer to listen to the whispers of the well-off in the leafy parts of the city rather than the shouts of inner-city residents.\u201d<\/p>\n Brizzlebabber writes: \u201cI\u2019ve been raising this with Bristol Waste for years since these bins were introduced. I even toured the area with a May Gurney manager and met Bristol Waste supervisors, but nothing changes. The lids are heavy and hard for some people to lift, and the openings are often too small, so bags end up left on top. I have little confidence that Bristol Waste or the council will do anything to properly fix the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Przemek Z points out: \u201cIt\u2019s not just St Pauls. In Redcliffe we have two large bins for more than 20 flats and no recycling. They\u2019re overflowing within days of collection and the street ends up full of litter. Complaints to Bristol City Council go unanswered. Two bins for 20 flats simply isn\u2019t enough, and because they\u2019re unlocked anyone can dump rubbish or bulky waste. It\u2019s a system that clearly isn\u2019t working.\u201d<\/p>\n Janusz B adds: \u201cI\u2019m from Poland and where I come from it\u2019s unthinkable to litter the streets and the area where people live like this. People seem to have no respect for themselves. Nobody cares when someone throws rubbish in a public place, no one even says a word. I can see that this has become part of English culture, not just something associated with the third world. The English themselves have allowed it to happen. So sad.\u201d<\/p>\n