A Monifieth councillor is in the firing line after voting against the creation of a new £2.4m state-of-the-art shared dump for Carnoustie/Monifieth.
Lib Dem Ben Lawrie said he stood by his preference after voting for it last week.
Recycling changes in Angus aimed at achieving “necessary savings” came into force in February and four centres – Brechin, Carnoustie, Kirriemuir and Monifieth – now only accept recyclable items.
Only the bigger centres at Arbroath, Forfar and Montrose continue to accept non-recyclable waste.
Carnoustie Independents Brian Boyd and David Cheape’s alternative budget would have seen Carnoustie and Monifieth’s existing recycling-only sites closed and the creation of a new shared facility which would also accept general waste.
Mr Lawrie said voting against Mr Boyd and Mr Cheape’s budget amendment was the right decision for his constituents and suggested South Angus residents could instead use facilities at Baldovie in Dundee to dispose of extra general waste.
“My comments on Baldovie were in response to the oft-repeated claim that Monifieth residents must travel to Arbroath if they want to get rid of surplus general waste,” said Mr Lawrie.
“It just isn’t true.
“Just as Broughty Ferry residents are able to use the Monifieth centre in Angus, Monifieth residents are able to use the Baldovie centre in Dundee. It’s reciprocal.
“I stand by my vote as I don’t know why we would close the recycling centre we have in Monifieth to make people travel out of town. To me that is a loss of services.”
Mr Lawrie spoke out to defend his comments following online criticism from Mr Boyd.
In response, Mr Boyd described Mr Lawrie’s comments as “an absolutely ridiculous statement to make”.
He said: “There is no reciprocation – people in Broughty Ferry and Barnhill aren’t going to go to Monifieth with recycling material when they have a fully-served dumped at Baldovie.
“Councillors from cash-strapped Dundee City Council will be absolutely appalled to hear an Angus counterpart encouraging Monifieth residents to go to Dundee to use their services.
“Mr Lawrie has to be careful because he has now gone against three financially competent amendments that can keep the waste in South Angus.
“We have the highest amount of elderly people in Angus and they need to be able to dispose of their waste on their doorstep.
“At the moment we have a ludicrous situation where you can buy a television set – dispose of the cardboard packing in Monifieth or Carnoustie but then have to drive to Arbroath to get rid of the cellophane and the polystyrene.
“More worrying for those elderly is who is going to do this for them?”
Mr Boyd said the issue isn’t going to go away and – along with Mr Cheape – he intends to bring options to council that help South Angus residents with services whenever possible.
Carnoustie SNP councillor Mark McDonald said: “The SNP group recognise the need for a general waste facility in South Angus.
“That’s why we had measures in our budget to look into this and supported the Carnoustie Independents in their alternative budget.
“It’s a great pity the administration councillors don’t recognise the needs of Angus South residents with some openly encouraging the use of another local authorities facility.”
