Rubbish spills on to streets as binmen continue to 'go slow'

Published on Friday 3 July 2009 10:00

RUBBISH is overflowing from bins across the Capital today as binmen continue their "go slow" industrial action over proposals to change the way they are paid.

Street bins across the city are starting to fill up quicker than the teams are emptying them – leaving litter falling on to the street.

Domestic and commercial collections have also been affected, with wheelie bins in several parts of the city left unemptied.

The city council today said it was continuing to work to try to resolve the situation.

Families are being told to leave green domestic wheelie bins out on the street even if they are not collected.

The collection of black bags has been hit by delays and the council is prioritising it because of the "increased litter potential from burst bags". Uncollected black bags should be taken in at night and returned on the next collection day.

The recent spell of hot weather is also adding to fears the situation could get worse.

Councillor Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour group on the city council, said today: "The council administration need to get a grip of this situation and bring an end to this work-to-rule as quickly as possible."

Refuse collectors began working to rule last week over plans to cut their pay as part of modernisation proposals currently being considered by the council.

Those currently on a wage of around 230 a week would lose around half of the 120 they receive in bonuses, amounting to around 3,000 a year.

Cllr Charles Dundas, who represents the city centre ward, said he had had a number of calls from people with concerns about overflowing street bins and missed domestic refuse collections.

He said: "I've had about half a dozen calls from people reporting non-collection or overflowing bins and have passed on their comments to the waste services manager.

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Cllr Gordon Buchan, who represents the Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart ward, said: "If the dispute continues, and the recent hot weather continues, the problem is going to get a lot worse."

The council said today that there were "severe delays" to garden waste and trade waste collection, while packaging banks and on-street refuse bins are being emptied at a reduced frequency.

There is to be no collection at all on Monday and, from Tuesday, residents are advised to leave domestic wheelie bins out even if not collected, although they are being told to bring in uncollected black bags at night and return them on the next collection day.

Andrea McHugh, head of environment at the city council, said: "We would like to thank our residents and customers for the patience they have shown so far and ask for their continued understanding while we work to resolve the situation.

"Every effort is being made to ensure that all refuse still awaiting collection is picked up as soon as possible."