The stinking rubbish that’s spilling onto our streets
Why have some collections been missed altogether?
TRADE waste bins are overflowing in Bridgend town centre because some collections have been missed up to three times.
It’s led to traders voicing health concerns as some waste, including food, has been hanging around for more than two weeks.
Collections have been missed amid confusion over a transfer of the service organised by Bridgend County Borough Council to its waste provider Kier.
Traders who were signed up to the BCBC service – some businesses use other providers – said they received letters telling them they needed to take no action at the present time.
But they’ve now been told they needed to sign up to Kier’s new service – which is £250 a year more expensive plus extra charges for waste over a certain weight – or find another waste provider if they want to have their bins emptied.
“There are pieces of meat on the streets of Bridgend being eaten by rats,” said Julie Chunuonsee-James, 50, who runs the Bauhaus cafe in Bridgend with husband Devon.
“It’s disgusting and noone seems to care.”
Julie said she received a letter from the council on March 20.
It said that going forward, the trade waste collection service that had been arranged by the council but which Kier delivered, would be delivered entirely by Kier, including the administration.
Julie said the letter stated: “This one-stop shop will streamline and improve the service you receive.
“There is no need for you to take any action at this time should you choose to continue with this collection arrangement.”
But three missed collections later, Julie said she’s at the end of her tether and doesn’t know where to turn.
She did receive a letter from Kier asking if she would like to sign up to its new service but did not because of the cost.
She is now waiting for another service provider to send out contracts. But in the meantime she has no way of getting her bins emptied.
Julie said a council worker had told her there would be a one-month period of grace and she took that to mean her bins would continue to be collected by Kier while she chose another operator
But now she has been told her council contract ceased on March 31 – however a collection was also missed on March 27 – leaving her in utter confusion.
Garyn Lewis, owner of The Chipyard in Bridgend, also had three collections missed.
“It’s like a landfill site,” he said.
Bridgend council said traders have been referring to the old collection schedule when they have cited missed collection dates – the new timetable introduced by Kier features the correct collection dates.
A spokesman for Kier said: “As part of the new recycling and waste arrangements for Bridgend county borough, businesses have the option of using Kier to collect and dispose of their trade waste. .
“The new service incorporates an updated collection schedule, which aims to provide a more efficient, streamlined service.
“Our teams are working with Bridgend County Borough Council to resolve any outstanding queries and have agreed that businesses who sign up for the service will have a month’s grace in which they can review their contract.”