Four-weekly bin lifts begin despite outrage
Residents will receive their new bin collection calendars from Stirling Council this week ahead of the start of controversial four-weekly collections of grey and blue bins.
All households, except some city centre and flatted developments, will have their grey bin (general waste) and blue bin (plastic, cans and cartons) collected every four weeks, instead of fortnightly, from Monday September 20.
The changes mean some residents may have different collection days after this date and they are being advised to check their calendar when it arrives. New calendars will be available online in advance of the change date.
Stirling Council’s SNP/Labour administration says the change from fortnightly collections aims to reduce waste to landfill by encouraging better recycling, limiting avoidable costs to the council for landfilling waste, and providing a more efficient bin collection service for residents.
However, the change has sparked outrage, including two petitions.
News last year that the council’s waste transformation programme would see grey and blue bins collected four-weekly instead of fortnightly was met with an outcry, including a 7000-signature online petition.
The bid ultimately failed to persuade the SNP/Labour administration to backtrack.
With the change looming, a fresh petition launched this summer reached more than 4000 names.
While the SNP/Labour administration argue that the timetable change will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, increase recycling rates and improve service provision, Tory councillors have argued against the change saying it will increase fly-tipping and that neighbouring Falkirk Council has seen no increase in recycling since it introduced a four-weekly cycle.
The council’s environment and housing convener Councillor Jim Thomson said this week, however: “We’ve been talking about these changes and the reasoning behind them since last June and I’m sure our residents are now fully equipped with the information they need before they come into place.
“The Recycle 4 Stirling campaign was instrumental in that by explaining the financial and environmental impacts of a fortnightly collection of grey bins, as well as providing helpful information to improve your household recycling.
“The mailing of new calendars is the final step before the changes get underway and I’d encourage everyone to keep their eyes out for a letter from the council.”
Vice convener Councillor Danny Gibson added: “We’re now just a few weeks away from the start of four-weekly collections and I’m pleased and proud to see Stirling making such a bold transition with waste collection. It’s vital we protect our environment with better recycling and reduce costs to deliver an effective and efficient service for the people who live in Stirling. I’m confident the change to four weekly collections of grey and blue bins will achieve those goals and would encourage anyone who needs extra capacity to read the letter we’re sending and contact us for support.”
The Tories, however, have pledged to scrap the four-weekly pick up if they take over after the next council elections.
Leader of the Scottish Conservative Group at the council, Councillor Neil Benny, said: “No amount of spin from this SNP/ Labour administration can rewrite history or ignore the facts.
“These cuts are being bought in without any prior consultation and against the wishes of the vast majority of Stirling’s residents. There were other options available that were not put before all councillors.
“There is a reason why only one other council in the country has tried four weekly collections and that is because the evidence from the one that did shows recycling rates fall and fly tipping increase.
“We remain opposed to these unnecessary cuts to such an important service.”
See www.stirling.gov.uk/Recycle4Stirling for more information on the changes.