Waste Issues At Ryde Properties Continue To Cause Concern

Ongoing waste collection problems affecting dozens of residents in Ryde are continuing to cause concern, with complaints raised over bins and rubbish blighting a town centre street.

The issue centres on 68–74 George Street, where four former townhouses have been converted into 37 separate residential properties.

Questions were put to Isle of Wight Council during a recent environment and community protection committee meeting, after concerns were raised from the public gallery.

Ryde’s mayor, Diana Conyers, said the current situation — with bins and reusable “gull sacks” often left on pavements and railings — is creating both an eyesore and a potential health hazard.

She argued this goes against the council’s own regulations, which state waste should only be left out on collection days and that landlords are responsible for providing suitable storage.

Councillor Conyers said the town council receives regular complaints from residents and has been trying to resolve the issue for years.

She added that alternative storage solutions have been proposed — and even offered to be funded — but have not been accepted.

In response, the council said the situation is complicated by the nature of the buildings, which were not designed for such a high number of occupants and lack suitable internal space for storing waste.

Alliance councillor for Ryde Monktonmead, Cllr Lucioni, said the properties include a mix of leaseholds, private rentals and houses in multiple occupation, making it difficult to enforce consistent waste arrangements.

She added that the local authority is not responsible for providing bin storage on private land, but has offered internal bins to all properties — an option that has not been taken up by landlords or managing agents.

Residents currently use animal-proof sacks for waste and recycling, some of which are stored on railings due to the lack of space.

The council says it would support the creation of a dedicated bin store if Ryde Town Council secures planning permission and any necessary highway changes, confirming collections would then be made from the new facility.

However, officers say ownership arrangements across the buildings make it difficult to implement a simple solution.

Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, said some properties have shared ownership structures, meaning not all landlords have access to outdoor space.

She explained that while some buildings — such as nearby 66 George Street — have been able to provide bin storage, others cannot due to differing ownership of gardens and communal areas.

As a result, she said it is not always possible to require landlords to introduce shared waste facilities, despite ongoing concerns from residents.