Local councillor slams council staff over bin collection fiasco

A local councillor has hit out at council officials for the ongoing bin collection fiasco.

Almond councillor, Kevin Lang, has criticised the new system that has been in place for three months.

In an update to councillors, Edinburgh City Council’s head of place management, Gareth Barwell, insisted that the new routes were still bedding in, despite being rolled out in October.

Bins this week in Pilton. (Picture: Mark Brown)

Mr Barwell said: “We continue to see week on week improvements in kerbside collections as the new routes bed in. In the run-up to Christmas, communal collections have been challenging, as is normally the case at this time of year, particularly packaging collections due to increased waste.

“It is a particularly challenging time for the service in respect of increased waste generation however staff and other resources are in place over the festive period to provide the necessary levels of cover.

“Moving into 2019, I expect the improving picture on kerbside collections to be sustained once the festive period is finished. The priority for the service will then be to increase activity on the communal bin project.”

However, Councillor Lang hit out at the situation.

He said: “It is extraordinary that, after three months, we are being told that the new waste collection system is still bedding in.

“After thousands of complaints and missed bin collections, nobody can yet say with any certainty as to when the problems plaguing this new system will finally end.

Councillor Kevin Lang

“People deserve to know when they will get the service they pay for.

“It is clear that the SNP/Labour administration running the city desperately needs a New Year’s resolution to focus on getting the basics right.”

Conservative transport and environment spokesperson, Cllr Nick Cook, has criticised environment convener Cllr Lesley Macinnes for not tackling the problems.

He said: “While the bin collection saga continues on a full-time basis, it increasingly appears the council’s embattled transport convener has simply resorted to fleeing the office for the holidays, with an ‘out of office’ message suggesting things can simply be addressed upon her return.”

Do you have problems where you are with bins not being emptied? If so get in touch with us so we can follow it up.