Stafford councillor raises his lack of food waste bin at meeting
By Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter 3rd Jul 2026
A councillor said he was still waiting for a food waste caddy more than two months after collections started in Stafford Borough – and dealt with a green bin "full of maggots" during the delay.
Mike Dodson, who represents Fulford, spoke up about his lack of food waste bin during a discussion on council complaints at the latest meeting of the Resources Scrutiny Committee.
Members heard the number of complaints made to Stafford Borough Council rose from 19 in 2024/25 to 65 during 2025/26.
The vast majority of these complaints were in connection with the authority's development service, with many relating to the outcome of decisions or handling of planning applications.
Councillor Dodson, who chaired the June 23 meeting, said: "Can I write you a letter on the fact I have still not got a food waste bin? I have raised the issue twice with our own refuse collection and once, via the Stafford Showground, to the county's person, all of whom have said 'I will get back to you' and none of who have.
"I'm still putting my food waste in the green bin, apart from during the week when maggots were so bad in the green bin that I had to triple bag it and take it round to the tip on Sunday – which was a great way to spend Sunday.
"It wasn't a happy job, heaving a bin full of maggots to Stone Household Waste Recycling Centre."
Councillor Emma Carter asked if there was a form on the council's website. "When we lost our recycling bag we filled in a form and within five working days we received a new one on our doorstep", she said.
Councillor Dodson responded: "I have not managed to get a form yet – I have been reporting verbally. But now I have raised the issue a bit more I will perhaps receive the form and fill that in."
Food waste caddy deliveries began in Stafford Borough in mid-March, ahead of the weekly service starting the week beginning April 13.
Around 60,000 properties have received two new containers for leftover food – a small internal seven-litre kitchen caddy and a larger 23-litre external kerbside caddy – as well as a roll of liners and instructions on how the new service works.
More than 80 tonnes of food was collected from households across Stafford Borough during the first few days of the service – and bin crews were even sent out on a Saturday to meet demand.
Stafford Borough Council spokesman Will Conaghan said: "Councillor Dodson was delivered his food caddy on Monday (June 29)."
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