Businesses in Bath may soon face increased costs due to a proposed change in the timing of commercial waste bin collections. Currently, shops in central Bath can place their bins outside by 5pm, coinciding with the end of the business day. However, Bath and North East Somerset Council is planning a year-long pilot program to delay this to 6pm, aiming to enhance the visual appeal of the city during business hours and the busy early evening period.
This change, however, has met strong opposition. A council report highlights that 93% of businesses who responded to the consultation are against the new schedule. Shops closing at 5pm would need to keep staff for an extra hour after closing to put out their bins, potentially costing each business over £3,000 a year, according to council analysis.
The council itself will also bear costs, having to either pay overtime to waste collection staff or restructure working hours, neither of which has been budgeted for. Financial pressure on waste services suggests a high risk of overspending in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
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The decision to trial the change was made by council cabinet member Mark Elliott on July 2, with the pilot set to begin in September. Opposition councillors have the option to “call in” the decision for further scrutiny if enough agree.
Out of 1,126 businesses invited, only 87 responded to the consultation, despite extended deadlines and outreach efforts. Among respondents, 43% close at 5pm and 33% close at 5:30pm. Over 70% expressed concerns that the additional staffing costs for later bin placement would be unfair or unaffordable.
The consultation report warns that small businesses might suffer during challenging economic times and that the policy could backfire by leading to unattended waste bags left for longer periods, undermining previous improvements to Bath’s public spaces.
In addition to the timing change, the pilot requires businesses to label their waste with their company name and address. It also encourages the use of reusable waste bags instead of single-use sacks, which could be collected and returned to the business. These initiatives received more support, with 76% backing waste labelling and 69% supporting reusable sacks.