The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Council rules out app in war against waste
TECH: Community groups fed up of litter support the application
Angus Council has ruled out moving to a new app system in the war on litter on cost grounds.
Community groups taking up the litter fight have voted overwhelmingly for the app system to be brought in.
Anti-litter crusaders believe the Fixmystreet Pro system could ease pressure on budgets long-term with more accurate reporting.
Ralph Coutts from Angus Communities Through the Lens said using the app would save the council many wasted journeys.
He said: “The Fixmystreet Pro version helps them do their job smarter, unlike the present.
“Our group carried out a poll on ways of reporting and the app came out tops by a country mile.
“Using the app takes just under a minute to make a report and it also uses GPS, taking you within four metres of the site.
“It also takes a picture of the waste but the council says it costs too much money in the long run.
“I think moving to an app system could ease pressure on budgets long term with more accurate reporting.
“Our group carried out a poll on ways of reporting and the app came out tops by a country mile. RALPH COUTTS
“A lot of people think the council’s reporting system is old and tired and it sometimes takes two or three goes before they get action.”
Mr Coutts said the Pro version would help build up a map of hotspots and repeat offenders.
He said he will be meeting with waste management next week to find a way forward.
A spokesman for Angus Council said it can, and does, receive emails via more than one ‘clean-up type’ app “but they tend to provide limited details”.
He said: “We speak regularly with members of Angus Communities Through the Lens Group and other community groups to see how we can work effectively together and pursue ideas and opportunities that are of mutual interest to us and to the wider community.
“Volunteers and voluntary groups do a tremendous amount of good in tackling litter issues across Angus and we continue to look at ways in which our combined efforts can be put to best effect.
“The best way in which people can report incidents of littering to us is via our online inquiries and requests form.
“This form provides us with relevant details about individual local issues directly and we are currently looking at enhancing these forms so people can also attach photographs.
“We can and do receive emails via more than one ‘clean-up type’ app, but they tend to provide limited details.
“There would also be a significant cost implication to integrate this type of app with our systems.”