Rubbish amnesty hits right note with piano

The discarded piano was expected to be repaired and sold

A rubbish amnesty hit the right note with residents when, as well as the discarded fridges and TVs, a piano was among the items collected.

The event in Claremont, Blackpool, was aimed at preventing fly-tipping and keeping the neighbourhood tidy by offering people chance to get rid of their old items for free.

Claremont has been holding regular rubbish amnesties twice a year for eight years, with other wards in the town now following their lead.

Ward councillor Lynn Williams said: “It was the first time we had a piano to collect and it took seven people to get it on the wagon."

'Making the ward tidier'

“I do remember on another occasion seeing someone with a three-seater sofa balanced on a shopping trolley bringing it to the skip," she said."But that’s what we want, rather than people just dumping these items."

The council’s waste management company Enveco collects all the rubbish on amnesty days, with nearly seven tonnes of garbage collected this time round, as well as 33 televisions and 25 fridges.

It means more than 20 tonnes of rubbish had been collected in Claremont over the last two rubbish amnesty days.

The discarded piano was expected to be taken to the council’s Tip Shop at the Bispham Tip, where items which can be repaired are sold.

Ms Williams added: “A lot of work has also been done to tidy up the back alleys.

“Over the years it has had an impact in terms of making the ward tidier.

"We are not there yet but hopefully people realise they would rather live somewhere where the streets are cleaner.”