Last week we published James Blake’s letter to Councillor Hinds (and her reply) concerning ‘Recycling chaos in Bellevue’.
Mr Blake yesterday received another Council communication, this time from a Community Waste Officer (CWO).
In it she explains that Bellevue’s new communal bins for dry mixed recycling are serviced by specialist side-loading vehicles, of which the Council has only a ‘limited number’.
At the time of Mr Blake’s letter, she continues, they were ‘experiencing some issues with these vehicles’, which resulted in running behind with collection schedules and hence the full or overflowing bins.
In some parts of the trial area, there have also been problems gaining access.
Responding to problems/short-term fixes
Under such circumstances, Waste Services deploy staff (alongside colleagues from the Neighbourhood teams) to clear away any excess, so long as they have the ‘resources to do so’. Where access is impossible, Council staff return and try again as soon as they have the ‘resources to do so’.
'The vehicle issues have now been resolved and collections should have resumed as per the agreed frequency (Wednesday and Saturday).'
The CWO concludes by apologising for any inconvenience, welcoming future enquiries, and informing Mr Blake that missed collections can also be reported online at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/missedbin
The CWO’s e-mail was forwarded by a Departmental Adviser to Councillor Hinds as Transport and Environment Committee Convener.
He invites further correspondence from Mr Blake if the situation has not improved, and finishes: ‘Please also note that she [Hinds] met today with the Waste & Fleet Manager who has agreed that the situation will continue to be monitored and if necessary the frequency of collection will be re-examined’.
Systemic failings
As damage limitation goes, this is not a bad response from all concerned. However, it again highlights systemic failings with regard to the number and reliability of Council vehicles, which we have heard blamed countless times before.
It also suggests that there are insufficient resources (staff with dustpans and brushes?) to tidy up promptly when things go wrong.
And last but not least, it’s disconcerting that problems only seem to be addressed quickly when aired in the full glare of social media. Communicating directly with the boss, and her personal intervention demanding same-day action, are all very well.
But surely, this is no way for Waste Services to run on a normal everyday basis?
Got a view? Tell us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook
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Fergus Smith Surely the communal bins are, like the lorries, owned by the council? Why install bins that require specialist lorries to empty if there aren't "the resources to do so"?
Broughton Spurtle Sounds daft, I agree, but think it may have something to do with Council bin lorry fleet being gradually replaced between now and Spring 2016.
Fergus Smith "Joined-up thinking".
Broughton Spurtle Afraid not. Ideas into recycling. Notions into landfill.
@theSpurtle @LAHinds Article repeats canard about reporting overflow of these bins online, when they are NOT ON CEC'S MAP!