Confusion over bin collections caused by the adverse weather conditions has prompted a plea from folk in Falkland for more information.
Many householders were unsure whether or not to put out their grey, blue and brown bins or where to put them when snow and ice on the roads prevented bin lorries from collecting in some streets.
While there was an appreciation bin men had done their best in difficult conditions, calls have now been made for Fife Council to keep people better informed about arrangements.
A local councillor and the village’s community council have both demanded that the system for relaying information to residents about waste collections is improved before the service is further disrupted.
After the issue was raised at Falkland and Newton Community Council’s most recent meeting, Councillor Donald Lothian said, “The council has clearly had problems in recent weeks maintaining its waste collection programme, and this is entirely understandable.
“I think there is a recognition that the collection squads have done exceptionally well in very challenging circumstances, particularly given the underfoot conditions, the difficulties of moving bins and the obvious road safety issue of very heavy vehicles on often narrow, sloping and icy roads.
“But it would be helpful for local residents if they were able to access more detailed information than is currently available about any problems, and in particular how they could help.
“It is also worth noting that refuse collectors do not get any additional time off over the festive period and there is also clearly more waste to be collected.”
Community council chairman Anthony Garrett added, “Falkland and Newton Community Council appreciates that in the current conditions bin men are facing grave difficulties and are sometimes unable to collect bins due to circumstances beyond their control.Better communication”However, the community council believes that there should be a better system of communicating with residents to advise when bins will be collected and what they should do.
“At present they do not know whether to leave bins out or to take them to a more accessible place. There is a problem all the year round, not just in adverse conditions.
“Given email and websites this should not be difficult and we hope that Fife Council will address this problem as a matter of urgency.”
However, the council insisted it already had a system in place to alert householders to missed collections.
Environmental strategy officer Lesley Sugden pointed out that during the disruption announcements had been made on two local radio stations, press releases issued to media, daily updates issued on the recycling helpline, Twitter, Facebook and the council’s website and councillors had been briefed daily.
She said, “We have a robust system in place for reporting missed bins. These are reported daily by the crews and put on an alert system.
“There are also clear instructions on our website on how to contact us with a problem like missed bins.
“As soon as the customer contacts us, we access the alert system and tell the householder to leave their bin out and we will return to empty it as soon as possible.
“Unfortunately there are some members of the public who put their bin out after the truck has been.
“If this is the case, then we would not return to empty it as it is the householder’s responsibility to have their bin out by 7am.
“On each of our web pages we have contact details that clearly state you can report a missed bin in three ways, using our online form, emailing or calling the recycling helpline.”
Photo used under a Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user Gene Hunt.