Waste collection arouses passions

WASTE collection services arouse more passions than almost any other subject, as has been evidenced in recent months after Argyll and Bute Council announced it was moving to three-weekly bin uplifts.

Then last week, the council experienced problems with its bin lorries, which resulted in many people not have their bins emptied at the expected time.

It also prompted comments on The Oban Times Facebook page after we published the story on our digital platforms.

One such comment struck a chord with me. Rita Hargey made a hugely valid point when she lamented the failure to empty the bins in Glencruitten Court.

Rita pointed out that there are many disabled people in that area of Oban and they experience additional problems because of the difficulty in negotiating their way around the bins in their wheelchairs. Well said, Rita. On a footnote, while people in Argyll and Bute are understandably concerned about the changes to waste collections, spare a thought for residents of neighbouring Stirling Council area. They have also had changes to waste collections this year and now must manage a system that involves four wheelie bins and one recycling box, with different uplift days and scheduling for each of the different bins and box.

You need a colour-coded spreadsheet on the kitchen wall to remember which bin to put out in which week and what day – never mind finding space for all those bins.