Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
‘Shambolic’ start to new bin collections
SNP call special assembly to discuss concerns
A special meeting of North Lanarkshire Council is taking place on Friday to discuss the new bin collections, with SNP councillors demanding answers to a series of questions about last month’s introduction of the new system.
The opposition group called the special assembly over what they’ve labelled the “shambolic launch” of the three-weekly collection cycle, and now want a full public report on 12 different issues.
Questions include the number of households left without bins or food bags at implementation, reports of vermin in organic waste bins, missed pullouts and collections, impact on recycling centres and the council hotline.
The SNP motion also requests details on the number of red tags issued for incorrect items being placed in bins during the past month, new bin deliveries and requests including nappy bins, plus the overall costs of the project.
Its councillors are also proposing a motion noting dissatisfaction with council leader Jim Logue and Glenboig councillor Michael McPake, whose infrastructure remit includes the waste solutions department.
Opposition infra s t ructure spokesperson Tracy Carragher, the Coatbridge South councillor, said: “The people of North Lanarkshire have the right to know what’s been going on and why this change has resulted in so much disruption.
“We attempted to bring forward this issue at the last ordinary council meeting, but Labour blocked it.
“Councils throughout Scotland have implemented similar changes without the chaos we have seen over the past four weeks; people are rightly angry and want answers.”
Group leader David Stocks, the Airdrie Central councillor, added: “This is turning into one of the worst decisions in the history of North Lanarkshire Council. It’s clear that the decision should have been taken last year at the latest.”
The new system was introduced on October 2, having been agreed by the council in June; with opponents criticising the short timescale for the exercise as some households were left without the required bins, food bags or collection schedules.
Councillor Logue told the Advertiser: “It’s the first time I’ve known a special meeting to be called for an operational issue – any councillor can make contact with senior officers about service performance.
“What we’re doing is no different to 26 other authorities; we need to change to reach the recycling targets set for 2020 and are doing what we’re required to do by the Scottish Government if we don’t want to start being subjected to financial penalties.
“The most important thing is to put this in context – there are 110,000 households in North Lanarkshire, each entitled to four bins. Our crews are out there lifting up to 1200 bins in every shift.
“There have been hiccups; we were let down by contactors over food bags, and I apologise to those inconvenienced where there have been transitional difficulties. The majority of residents recognise the amount of work in changing the service, which we have to do for the 2020 recycling targets.”
This is turning into one of the worst decisions in the history of North Lanarkshire Council