‘We’re eliminating bin collection problems’
Union deal and extra wheelie rollout complete
Stirling’s new waste collection service is finally bedding in, council officials have insisted.
Members of the authority’s environment and housing committee were told that while some isolated issues are still being ironed out, the service was working well overall – with a new fleet of vehicles due in the next few weeks likely to result in further improvements.
Problems have dogged the new system since it was introduced in autumn.
Residents complained about bins not being collected at the designated time.
And the system was introduced without agreement with unions, representing the bin operatives on the seven-day working arrangement considered vital if the new scheme was going to work properly.
Although the two sides reached agreement, the council had to pay bin staff overtime to make sure all the bins were uplifted.
And officials say that while they are working to resolve some service delivery issues, the rollout of two extra wheelie bins to around 40,000 properties is now complete.
“Negotiations with the trades unions have been finalised and this has been readily accepted by the workforce and they are working to it well.
“Conditions over the festive period were difficult and I’m pleased to say we were up to date by January 9. We have been achieving 95 per cent increasingly on a daily basis and we are confident that will continue.
“The new fleet of vehicles has been sourced through competitive procurement and are being fitted with safety technology and features.
“This is the largest transformational exercise Stirling Council has undertaken to date. The feedback we are getting is that customers are finding things easier. We are refining the service and listening to customer feedback.”
Committee convener Councillor Danny Gibson said: “This has been a major exercise and it has been a big job for the team and from the council’s perspective. This is a massively important service to the public. I have appreciated the responsiveness of the team and their hard work to do the best for the public. The key thing for the public is to get the right thing on the right day. The city centre in particular is going to take time to get it absolutely right.
“The new fleet will be a massive improvement for the workers and the service. It will be a massive piece in the jigsaw.”
Councillor Alasdair Macpherson said: “Any time I have contacted the team it has acted quickly. I’m not saying it’s perfect and there are still gaps but I’m delighted to see the workforce on board and being rewarded.”
Councillor Mark Ruskell also pointed out that some people who had requested smaller bins were still to receive them.
Officials said: “In relation to smaller bins, as a council we need to reach our recycling targets and one of the ways to do this is to give people larger bins. If they don’t have space though they can contact us for smaller bins.”
Councillor Gibson added: “The smaller bins make negligible difference to the actual footprint they use up. It’s a misnomer for people but the point is we want people to get stuff into these bins and not send it to landfill.”
Councillor Neil Benny said, however: “The key thing is people are not necessarily asking for a smaller bin because of the space it takes up but because they can’t handle the weight. Some don’t want a pull out service.”
Officials said they were looking at the backlog and, with the help of colleagues in Land Services, hoped to be “up to speed” within weeks.
Councillor Jim Thomson said: “The last three community council meetings I have been at the bins haven’t been on the agenda, which is positive.
“Some people feel the grey bin doesn’t need to be collected as often, I’m told, but people need more cardboard collected. When are we going to look at the frequency and do we need a forum to discuss it in more detail?”
“We could flip it with plastics etc fairly easily,” said the officials. “The feedback is that the blue bins are being presented but not necessarily full.”
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