A petition has started after rising community frustration over a lack of excess recycling facilities.
This is following the closure of a recycling point outside of Waitrose on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.
Sheffield City Council has recently announced plans to increase the size of recycling bins from 1 April.
Bins will now have a capacity of 240 litres, up from the current 140 litre limit.
This provides relief for residents, as one blue bin collection per four weeks makes recycling difficult.
Tessa Lupton, Green Party candidate for Ecclesall Ward, said: “In talking with my neighbours, I heard from people who want to recycle but have to drive several miles, taking bags of plastic trays and cartons to the Council’s household recycling sites.”
A Waitrose spokesperson said: “We remain fully committed to working constructively with the council and engaging in any future discussions.”
They also said there has been no formal request from the council to reinstate the bins on Ecclesall Road.
Waitrose are not obliged to reinstate these facilities, but there are concerns around this setting a precedent for other supermarkets in the area, following trends of declining attitudes towards environmental support.
Mrs Lupton has started a petition, which has reached over 400 signatures.
The petition echoes the Sheffield Green Party’s stance, which calls for the supermarket to act swiftly to ensure recycling remains within reach for everyone near Ecclesall Road.
This reiterates Mrs Lupton’s desire to “focus on the petition for the local residents’ sake.”
She believes reinstating these facilities would allow Waitrose to meaningfully contribute to Sheffield’s environmental goals while reaffirming its role as a responsible, community-minded retailer.
Sheffield City Council’s positive action on blue bins should relay any fears over the lack of accessible recycling, however debates remain over the long-term success of recycling in the UKs greenest city.
The public has welcomed these changes on social media, saying their blue bins are “Always full and overflowing. Bigger blue bins would be great.”
Brown bins will also be able to include aerosols and plastic pots from 1 April.
