‘We’re catching up now’
But complaints are still flooding in - and one householder says he’s waited 19 days for collection
THE “vast majority of outstanding collections have been cleared” it’s been claimed as Bridgend attempts to get to grips with a waste and recycling backlog.
But residents are STILL reporting that bags of smelly rubbish are yet to be picked up by contractors Kier.
In Dunraven Street, Aberkenfig, a pile of blue bin bags and a purple ‘nappy collection’ bag have been awaiting collection for a week.
While in The Chase in Kenfig, residents have not received a recycling collection for more than a fortnight. They are now unable to fit any more into the containers and said their food waste boxes are infested with maggots.
A resident in Aberkenfig, who took the picture of the bags piled up in the street, said there are feminine hygiene products and dog poo bags in the sacks, which have started to disintegrate. A spokesman for Bridgend council said: “Kier put a number of short-term measures in place to deal with the backlog and help them get up to speed on collections, including bringing in extra staff and vehicles.
“They worked across the weekend and have cleared the vast majority of outstanding collections.
“Any remaining incidents are being mopped up as quickly as possible.”
One of the short-term measures included throwing recycling – which had been separated by residents as the scheme requires – altogether in the back of a bin lorry.
The authority said the measure was used to help Kier clear recycling quickly and they have now “made separate arrangements with a third party for any materials collected in this way to be re-sorted for recycling”.
“While quicker, mixed material collections are more expensive and less effective than picking up and processing presorted recycling,” said the spokesman.
“The use of the refuse vehicle to collect recycling in some areas was one of the short-term measures Kier used, and while not ideal, it was temporarily allowed in order to ensure that the backlog could be cleared during the recent spell of hot weather.
“Regular collections have resumed and householders should put their recycling and waste out as normal. Early indications from the scheme are highly encouraging with Kier reporting a huge increase in daily recycling tonnages of nearly 50%.”
Since it started on June 5 the new regime has
been dogged by countless missed rubbish and recycling collections. Councillors across the political divide have labelled it a “crisis” and called for the Labour-led authority to take action.
Both council leader Huw David and Kier’s managing director Julian Tranter have apologised.
Longstanding county councillor and former leader of Bridgend Cheryl Green said the scheme has suffered “systemic failure”.
Even Carwyn Jones hasn’t been immune to problems. He tweeted that his street’s recycling wasn’t collected as scheduled last Thursday.
It came after the Bridgend AM was criticised by Plaid Cymru’s Bethan Jenkins on social media. She accused him of telling the Senedd there was “no issue” with the council’s new waste contract and “he was doing it just fine”.
Mr Jones vehemently denied glossing over the problems and is now seeking a meeting with the Labour leader of Bridgend council Huw David.
Bridgend council said Kier has made changes, including employing extra workers and bringing in extra lorries.
“The new scheme began on a 16 round basis using a crew of two, then moved to 12 rounds using crews of three. This clearly didn’t work, so Kier have settled on a current balance of 18 rounds using a three-strong crew,” said the spokesman.
“BCBC has not provided Kier with any additional funds.”
He said an additional issue had been that new recycling vehicles are not yet ready.
“The former recycling vehicles are being utilised while new ones are manufactured, and part of the reason why the backlog occurred was because these were filling up very quickly as residents embraced the new procedures, and crews were having to return to the depot to empty them.
“Kier trialled using a relay vehicle to transfer the waste to the depot, but when it didn’t improve the situation, they settled on the current scheme of 18 rounds using crews of three.
“The new system is being carefully monitored and evaluated, and further changes will be made to ensure that it has bedded in properly and is running efficiently.”
But a resident of The Chase in Kenfig, said he’s not confident that the situation will improve.
“It’s 19 days since we last had a (recycling) collection. I have phoned and I know other neighbours have phoned on numerous occasions.”
He said Kier’s call centre promised someone would call back but they didn’t.
“I have received absolutely nothing from Kier who have been, as far as I’m concerned, bordering on appalling. It’s a total disgrace. We have maggots in our bins.”
I WILL shortly be meeting with the Leader of Bridgend Council Coun Huw David to receive an update on what the Council is doing about missed rubbish and recycling collections.
I have already been in communication with the Leader and several councillors to hear how they are dealing with problems that have arisen and have also made representations formally to the Council on behalf of many constituents who have contacted my office.
This meeting is an opportunity to hear what further actions are being taken by the Council. Kier will be taking on more staff to cover the backlog. It is important that the Council remind Kier of their contractual responsibilities, and continues to be proactive. I am acutely aware that collections have been patchy. I too have experienced a mixed level of service. With a new scheme, there are bound to be teething problems and it is essential that these are resolved quickly.
There has been a lot of misinformation regarding my comments last week in Plenary about the new scheme. I know there have been some very real problems for people and I have not glossed over missed collections. Interpretation of someone’s comments is not fact.
This is a good scheme and it would be a pity if it was damaged by poor levels of service as it starts. It’s in everyone’s interest to get it right.