Birmingham’s Labour leadership have pledged to retain weekly household bin collections for four years if they win the local elections in May.
The ruling group hit out in response to opposition Conservative claims there was a “secret plan” to move to fortnightly collections in 2019.
The future of bin collections and the fall-out from last summer’s strike action are likely to be key issues in the council election.
The vote will, for the first time in 14 years, see every single seat up for grabs.
Labour pledged the weekly household waste collection was here to stay until the next election in 2022.
The promise was made despite plans for a major overhaul of refuse collection and waste services from 2019, when the long-term Tyseley incinerator contract with Veolia ends.
Labour also promised to step up investigation and enforcement against fly-tippers.
Council leader Coun Ian Ward said: “We’ve been treated unfairly by the Tory Government who have underfunded the city by hundreds of millions of pounds in comparison with other areas.
“But in the face of these cuts, Labour has been making the right choices.
“Today I’m laying out Labour’s plan for a cleaner and greener Birmingham.
“I am making it clear that if Labour wins the council election in May – we will keep your weekly bin collection. No ifs, not buts – your weekly collection is staying for the full term, if you elect Labour.
“We will also continue to modernise the waste collection and recycling service. We will increase recycling, work closely with partners to reduce plastic waste and put in place a hit squad to tackle fly-posting .
“We will also be using every power at our disposal to tackle fly-tippers. It’s unacceptable and it drags our city down. I want fly tippers to know what we’re coming after you and will use the full force of the law to prosecute those who fly-tip rubbish in our city.”
But opposition Tories were unconvinced .
Conservative leader Coun Robert Alden pointed out that a series of council motions pledging to keep weekly refuse collections had been rejected by the Labour leadership.
He said: “Just this month they rejected an amendment to keep weekly refuse collections and confirmed they are sticking with their waste strategy that confirms Labour will introduce fortnightly refuse collections.
“There is only one way residents can be certain of keeping the weekly collection and that is by voting Conservative on May 3.
“If the Conservatives win we will scrap Labour’s fortnightly bin strategy.”
