Where have you bin? Collection runs late
CLARENCE ratepayers who have been inconvenienced by an interruption to waste collection services will receive a credit, as Covid constraints and a change of provider leave rubbish uncollected.
The council announced it was changing its service provider last week, which resulted in an interruption to the collection of green waste and recycling.
There have also been interruptions to the collection of general waste, with the service one day behind on Thursday and half a day behind on Wednesday and Tuesday.
Howrah resident Sue Ferguson
said she had noticed the collection of general waste bins was late.
“They usually pick it up in the morning early, when I’m still in bed,” Ms Ferguson said.
“Today it’s obviously taking them a little longer, but I think it will be done in time for people when they come home to come and put their bin in.”
Ms Ferguson said she was understanding of the problem.
“They’ve had a problem with workers trying to drive trucks because of Covid and flu, which we’re all trying to cope with aren’t we?” she said.
“I think a bit of understanding is needed, the Clarence
Council is doing free green waste disposal and compensation too.
“I must admit, it’s given me another view of the services the council provides.”
Howrah resident Darren Geason was among the residents waiting for his bins to be emptied.
“The yellow bins were supposed to be last week, they haven’t picked it up,” he said.
Mr Geason said many in the area had left their bins out for collection.
“I see a lot of bins out on the street, a lot of recycling, a lot of green waste bins,” he said.
“I’ve seen bins a bit overfilled.”
Mr Geason was also waiting
for his general waste bin to be picked up.
“They sent a letter out yesterday and they’re supposed to come and pick that up today,” he said.
At Monday’s council meeting, deputy mayor Heather Chong said the situation was an inconvenience to many.
“We all recognise the level of frustration that’s been in the community about this,” she said.
“You drive around, you see bins and rubbish on the side of the road.”
Ratepayers will receive a credit of between $2 and $7, depending on how many bins they have and how many services have been missed.
The credit will be deducted from future rate payments.
“We apologise unreservedly to our residents for this inconvenience, it is not a situation we wanted to be in,” Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said.
“While we realise this is an inconvenience to the impacted residents, we are working to minimise these impacts as much as we can while transitioning to provide a waste collection solution that benefits our community long-term.”
Residents are encouraged to keep their general waste bins out until they are collected, but to bring in their recycling and green waste bins until the service resumes on Monday.