Bins back on track? Rubbish!

SO, THE waste collection system is ‘mostly back on track’, according to Argyll and Bute Council, as reported in The Oban Times last week. Really? Who is the council kidding? People are still complaining that their bins have not been emptied for up to six weeks and that they have no idea any more when – or if – their rubbish will be collected.

The situation across Argyll is still dire, and has been made worse by the festive season and the stormy weather. In fairness to the council, there’s not much it can do about either of those.

However, gales, snow and rain arrive every winter and are about as predictable as day following night. And Christmas, with its accompanying surge in the amount of litter to be removed, just happens to come along at the same time each year.

We have been sent graphic illustrations by readers of the consequences of the failed waste collection system, with overflowing bins blown over, scattering rotting rubbish everywhere, and refuse sacks split open and causing noisome filth to be spread around our streets.

There is honestly only one solution and I’ve urged its implementation previously: scrap the three-weekly system and return to fortnightly general wheelie bin collections.