Council chiefs in Fife have confirmed they are considering a raft of measures to tackle inconsiderate drivers who hinder the work of refuse collectors.
Bin men and women have reported difficulties in streets throughout the kingdom with parked vehicles often blocking bins or access to streets, meaning they cannot be emptied and can overflow.
Edinburgh City Council has just launched a concerted campaign which will see workers slap information leaflets resembling a parking fine on offending vehicles, accompanied with a stark warning that parking could incur a £60 parking ticket or the car being towed away.
Fife Council is monitoring that approach closely and could follow suit if it proves to be effective.
Sandy Anderson, waster operations service manager for the local authority, said: “The council is looking at the difficulties refuse collectors are faced with in certain areas across Fife.
“The problems arise, not just from the numbers of vehicles but mainly because some of those parking them haven’t realised the difficulties they are creating by not parking as thoughtfully as they could have done.
“We are looking at several measures which can be taken to ease the situation, including direct approaches to the owners of the vehicles that are seen to be causing the problem.”
In the capital, refuse lorry crews are being armed with distinctive leaflets which will be placed under windscreen wipers of cars in a bid to shame the repeat offenders.
Bin stickers are also being used on the other side of the Forth, but Fife is already trialling another approach, according to Mr Anderson.
“We have developed our own signs to attach to lampposts giving further information to the residents of streets where refuse drivers are experiencing access issues,” he said.
“We will also continue to work with local community councils and our colleagues in other departments to consider any measures that could prove effective in reducing this problem.”
Lesley Macinnes, transport and environment convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, hopes other local authorities can learn from their stance.
“Unemptied bins inevitably overflow and lead to increased litter and flytipping,” she noted.
“This is about basic common sense and consideration for others at the end of the day.
“It’s also a very real question of safety – if you block access to the street for bin lorries, you’re also potentially blocking ambulances and fire engines from getting to emergency call-outs as well.”
