It’s wheelie bin smooth

Garbage collection change no problem: Council

ANGRY ratepayers trashing the council’s decision to move rubbish collection to the early morning have failed to cause an official backlash.

Councillors say they have received just one complaint about bins being missed since the early-morning collections began ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Despite complaints on social media, city leaders said they were “pleasantly surprised” at the response.

Southport Cr Dawn Crichlow received the lone complaint this week from one local whose wheelie bin was left full on the footpath.

“I got one complaint from a woman who lives in a small laneway and her bin got missed,” she said. “She called me and we managed to get it picked up from her house and it was all sorted.”

Other councillors told The Bulletin they had received little feedback about the changes.

“Most people understand it is temporary and is necessary while we host the Commonwealth Games,” Cr Cameron Caldwell said.

City hall was yesterday unable to say how many complaints had been received.

Councillors voted for rubbish collections to be made between midnight and 6am during the Games to ease traffic, for security and to help with waste collection.

Many locals took to social media this week to vent about the early-morning pick-ups, which they say woke them up.

A council spokeswoman said the changes had been long in the works.

“This temporary change was widely communicated to the community,” she said. “The change was initiated from the beginning of this week to ensure that the collection routes work effectively and that customers make arrangements to put bins out the night before their normal collection day.

“We regret any inconvenience, however these changes are necessary to ensure safe and effective waste collection across the city during this important period.”

Normal collections resume after April 20.