Passport required for second bin

Fortnightly collections have led to overflowing wheelie bins

Conwy residents who want a second dustbin will need to show a birth certificate or passport to prove they qualify, the council has said.

Households of six or more are entitled to an extra bin and a child in nappies counts as two people under the rules.

Conwy Council said the checks were necessary because many families had been falsely claiming a second bin.

But Clwyd West MP David Jones told the Daily Post that demands for birth certificates "seem a bit unreasonable".

A letter from the head of environmental and technical services Geraint Edwards - sent to anyone requesting an extra bin - said the council was "compelled" to seek proof to support any claims for an extra bin because of the number of false claims.

"May I apologise for the inconvenience of fulfilling our request, we do regret that genuine large families are inconvenienced because of this necessary measure," the letter added.

If Conwy wants residents to co-operate fully with the scheme, they should avoid making life hard for them David Jones MP

The letter also detailed that utility bills could be used to prove how many people were in households.

Conwy Council said the requirement for documentation had been in place for more than two years.

The council's recycling officers can visit residents to offer help and advice on managing household waste and recycling, a spokeswoman said.

But Clwyd West MP David Jones said fortnightly collection was making life hard for Conwy residents and that demands for birth certificates "seem a bit unreasonable".

"They are not needed for electoral registration, so why should they be needed for dustbin collection?," he told the Daily Post.

"The Commons local government select committee cast doubts on the merits of fortnightly waste collection.

"It said it was unconvinced that they encouraged recycling and warned that they might lead to increased fly-tipping. The jury is still out.

"If Conwy wants residents to co-operate fully with the scheme, they should avoid making life hard for them."