Vermin experts called in to bin collection row
Fear of rising pest problems
Pest control experts have been asked to comment on plans by Stirling Council to introduce monthly bin collections.
Mid Scotland & Fife MSP Dean Lockhart wrote to the British Pest Control Association, seeking their views on the controversial proposals.
On June 30 the council’s Snp/labour administration voted through the changes, scheduled to start next year, by 12 votes to 10.
Since then around 6000 people have signed an online petition seeking a reversal of the plans, which will see the grey landfill bin and blue recycling bin collected every four weeks.
Brown food and garden waste bins will only be collected if the £35 garden waste collection charge has been paid, although some exemptions would apply.
Tory Mr Lockhart said he had raised the issue after receiving numerous complaints from constituents, many of whom have raised concerns that monthly collections and uncollected brown bins containing food waste will create pest control problems.
The British Pest Control Association has previously issued warnings about the consequences of cuts to collections and the inability of councils’ pest control services to cope.
Mr Lockhart said: “Public health concerns should be at front and centre of any decision-making process by a local authority and it is quite clear that these changes have been pushed through without proper consideration as to their environmental impact.
“I share the concerns of residents who are worried that a more infrequent bin collection will lead to an increase in pests such as rats.
“Emptying people’s bins is one of the most basic and important jobs a council can do and residents should expect a proper service.”
Council leader Councillor Scott Farmer recently accused the Tories of “peddling misinformation” about the plans, saying he’d had no complaints about the waste collection proposals in weeks.
Residents worry about an increase in pests