City of Edinburgh Council has now confirmed that the seven bins used in Bellevue's recycling trial have mistakenly and repeatedly been mixed with general rubbish for landfill.
The general recycling principle is great. The actual operation of the trial here appears to have been rubbish.
In a remarkably short and unapologetic response to Spurtle's enquiry, CEC said: 'A small number of side loading bins have been incorrectly collected as the new tenement recycling pilot beds in. This has now been rectified and the service will continue as normal'.
Normal isn't what we want.
The statement comes in response to Monday's article by Fred Street of the New Town Clean Streets Campaign (NTCSC). Street observed last week that not only were residents putting the wrong kind of rubbish in the recycling bins, but the Council was using the wrong kind of lorries to collect it and send it to the wrong place.
Unfortunately, this mess gets worse. CEC went on to tell Spurtle that the error had affected only Saturday collections in Bellevue, not Wednesday collections. But Street had seen the collection on Friday. So the problem already seems to be twice as bad as previously suspected.
In the interests of clarity, Spurtle sought further explanation. An interim statement from CEC next said that a definitive answer would not be available for a few days, but that sources thought the crew in question might have 'taken the opportunity to empty the bins on Friday since they had a little extra time'.
Why that crew didn't know the difference between normal bins and recycling bins 4 weeks into the 6+ month trial is unknown. Also unknown is how many other passing bin lorries with a little extra time may have made the same mistake here and elsewhere in the city.
In lay terms, it seems obvious to the Spurtle that any analysis of the so-far half-arsed Bellevue recycling trial needs to be thrown in the bucket. We require a careful review and a fresh start.
We want Environment Convener Leslie Hinds – who recently earbashed us over 'myths and misconceptions' about recycling – to ensure proper procedures in future, before anyone loses faith in the process altogether.
The NTCSC is rather more politic and even-tempered than we are about this. It seeks more facts before issuing a response, and to this end has enlisted the help of City Centre Councillor Joanna Mowat who sits on the Transport and Environment Committee. She will take up the matter with Edinburgh's Head of Waste and report back.
- How is the success or failure of this trial to be measured?
- Is there a quantitative measure, and if so what is the comparator? What is the threshold for success?
- Is there a qualitative measure? If so, how is the quality of what is collected evaluated, and what impact does this have on the success or otherwise of the trial?
- What measures is CEC putting in place to ensure that in future the recycling bins are collected as a separate stream?
Spurtle is strongly in favour of recycling. We just want to see it properly executed. We'll keep the subject under review and would welcome any input from local readers able to observe what's happening on the ground.
Got a view? Tell us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook
Anne Hardy Go, Spurtle!
@theSpurtle @NTCleanStreets They had a little extra time on their hands so they decided to empty some additional bins?
@theSpurtle @NTCleanStreets That's dedication to the cause even if they did make a 'mistake'.
Broughton Spurtle @theSpurtle
@TheLHTD @NTCleanStreets Possibly.
Broughton Spurtle @theSpurtle
Let's get it sorted: http://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/council-admits-recycling-foulup … @LAHinds
@theSpurtle keep up the good work!
@theSpurtle @NTCleanStreets obviously it may not have happened like this. If it did, I expect them to receive silver marigolds (for effort).
@theSpurtle @NTCleanStreets and the freedom of the city of course.