Council to help terminally ill man with bin collections (From Borehamwood Times)

Council to help terminally ill man with bin collections

5:07pm Monday 15th October 2012 in News By Anna Slater

A father who said moving his wheelie bin leaves him “gasping for air” is relieved the council have agreed to help.

Ivor Kennedy, of Banks Road, was angry after Hertsmere Council binmen refused to collect his brown bin from the grass verge behind his house on Thursday.

The 60-year-old suffers from incurable lung disease and had applied for assisted bin collections two weeks ago.

Steve Burton, head of waste services at Hertsmere Council, said the error was down to a breakdown in communication.

He added: “In this instance, it was the first day of Mr Kennedy’s assisted bin collection service and there was a breakdown in communication so the bin was missed.

“We apologise any inconvenience caused. The bin was emptied the following day and we are liaising with Mr Kennedy to ensure this does not happen again.”

Married Mr Kennedy had always left his green and black bin on the grass verge behind his house – but was told last week his brown bin needed to be wheeled to the front.

He said: “Just one day after I contacted the Borehamwood Times , the council binmen came along and picked up my bin. 

“I am so grateful and very pleased. Moving the wheelie bin could leave me gasping for air so this will obviously be one less stress to worry about in my life.

“It will really help me a great deal and even though it sounds like a small thing, it will make a big difference to me.”