BULK UPLIFTS COULD RETURN
BULK upl i f t s a c r o s s Gl a s g o w c o u l d b e reinstated next month to help tackle the fly- tipping and graffiti crisis the city is facing. Glasgow was recently deemed the fly- tipping capital of the UK after the local authority decided to suspend collection and uplifts in response to the Covid- 19 pandemic.
At yesterday’s full council meeting it was also announced additional resources would be put in place to address these issues in the run up to bonfire night.
Councillor Anna Richardson said: “The service understandably continues to have an increase in absence due to a combination of confirmed Covid cases and self- isolation. To date it hasn’t been possible to recommence the service. Officers are continuing to review when the service would begin, and we are now working towards the possible start date of mid- November.
“This will be dependent on Covid remaining manageable locally as the pandemic continues to affect our planning of reinstating these services.
“We will also continue to help housing organisations who have been working in partnership with the service in terms of removing bulk from their properties and disposing of it at the council’s household waste recycling service free of charge.
“We have also allocated increased resources to remove fly- tipping in the run up to November 5 with a focus on known hotspots in and around the city.”
Conservative councillor Thomas Kerr, who initially raised the concerns, said it was encouraging to hear that the council was working towards a hopeful “restart date”.
He said: “I am just wondering though if the convener knows that Glasgow is now the graffiti and fly- tipping capital of the UK. If so, is something she is proud of as city convener for environment and sustainability?”
Ms Richardson said the people of Glasgow need to consider what part they are playing in keeping their community clean and tidy.
She said: “The majority of residents will recognise that we are in a global emergency. We have seen how well people are looking after each other.
“Unfortunately, the rise in fly- tipping and graffiti just shows that there are a small minority of Glaswegians who are not doing their part to really pull together.”