When the owners of Grimshaw's newsagents reported that their bin was not being emptied regularly enough, they hoped the situation would improve.
Instead, the bin disappeared.
"It's crazy," said Steve Grimshaw, owner of Grimshaws Newsagents on Lee Lane, Horwich.
"It happened about four weeks ago, so we've not had a bin outside since then.
"There's one over the road, but if some kids have litter, and the bin's over there, they'll just chuck it on the floor won't they?"
Steve brought the matter to the attention of Cllr David Grant, leader of the Horwich and Blackrod First Independent Party, who undertook an audit.
It was quickly discovered that Steve's case was not an isolated one, and bins had in fact disappeared from several locations around Horwich and Blackrod.
Bins had vanished from outside Roma Chippy on Chorley New Road, Kildonan House Health Centre, and Greenhalgh's in Blackrod - easily identifiable by the distinctive 'H' pattern left on the ground.
On Thursday, council workers came round to Steve's shop to let him know the bin would be reinstalled, though not in precisely the same location as it was before.
Notably, the reinstallation of the bin comes only after Cllr Grant raised the issue at a Bolton Council meeting - there was no indication prior to this that the bin was going to return.
"They came round to let me know they were going to put the bin over there," said Steve, pointing a nearby location.
"But then they decided they wouldn't be able to do that because it would destroy the red brick. They also said there are pipes under that bit of road.
"They said they're going to put it next to the bus stop."
A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “This bin has been removed due to odour complaints from the adjoining shop owner.
“We are installing a new bin at a nearby location today (Wednesday 8 July)."
Steve disputes that he complained about the odour, instead insisting he complained specifically about the infrequent collections.
There has been no indication the other bins will be replaced, however, including the one formerly located outside Roma Chippy, which has been absent for around a year.
This bin, too, was removed after complaints from the nearby business owners - Roma Chippy and Miami Barber - that it was not being emptied often enough.
Mohammed, who owns Miami Barber, said: "A few times the rubbish outside has been bad enough that I've collected it myself and put it in my own bin.
"It's not my job, but it's outside my shop, so what am I supposed to do?
"People come by with rubbish from takeaways and shops and they just throw it on the floor.
"People want to come into my shop for a haircut and they have nowhere to put their rubbish."
As if to illustrate the point, there was a large, two-litre bottle of water on the floor, directly next to where the bin used to be.
To make the issue worse, another bin just 100 yards up the road was also uninstalled recently following complaints from the former owner of Lee's Chinese.
Karzan 'Kaz' Mohammed, owner of K's Chicken, located directly next to Lee's, explained that the previous owner of Lee's had complained about the state of the bin.
"It was getting very full - people were putting rubbish in it, doggy bags," said Kaz.
"Especially after the other bin was taken away it was bad - it was attracting flies.
"And this is a food establishment - it'll put people off coming in."
In this case at least, the then-owner had specifically requested the bin be removed, but the issue was, in-part, caused by the removal of the bin further down the street.
"There's a bin up there," said Kaz, pointing to the Co-op, "but quite often people just throw things on the floor.
"There are a lot of businesses on this street, and a lot of people walking up and down.
"I've seen them stuff things on top of that big plastic Costa cup."
Kaz was referring to the large novelty Costa cup outside the Co-Op
Cllr Grant said: "It is completely baffling that while fly-tipping numbers across Bolton are surging, the council’s response is to quietly remove vital public litter bins from high-street mainstays like Grimshaw’s, Roma Chippy, Greenhalgh's, and our local parks.
"To claim the issue is 'resolved' by expecting schoolchildren, shoppers, and elderly residents to cross busy main roads just to hunt down a volunteer-run community sack is an insult to our communities.
"We don't need creative excuses or shifting of the burden onto local volunteers; we need basic, reliable infrastructure and a council that actually takes pride in keeping Horwich and Blackrod clean."
Cllr Grant planned to raise the issue in the Bolton Town Council meeting on June 24, but there was not enough time.
Bolton Council instead gave a written response to Cllr Grant's question, stating that, from now on, ward councillors will be consulted before bin provision in an area is changed.
The full response read: "I understand that these bin replacements have already been agreed with local ward members and are being progressed as resources allow.
"Moving forward, I am pleased to advise that the service will commit to engaging with ward councillors before proceeding with a change to litter bin provision.
"Information on the litter bin emptying service can be found on the Bolton Council website – this also includes an option for residents to report a full litter bin.
"Unfortunately, the service does not presently have sufficient resources to expand the network of bins or increase the emptying frequency – to do so, would simply divert resource away from other priority operational services.
"However, where the demand is highest, the service can replace smaller standard litter bins with larger 240-litre bins, where access allows (noting that some paths are too narrow). I also understand that the issue associated with the litter bin at Lee Lane has been resolved.
"Unfortunately, the service will occasionally receive complaints from residents and businesses located near a litter bin. I am assured that the service will make best endeavours to take a balanced approach when resolving such issues. On occasion this may necessitate the service relocating a litter bin, as was the case in this instance."
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