Like many other Councillors I’ve been contacted about bin collections being affected due to the recent bad weather so I’ve posted the most recent update on cleansing operations received from Land and Environmental Services.
MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ROBERT BOOTH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Dear Member
As you are aware, our refuse collection service was disrupted during November and December as a consequence of the extreme weather conditions. The situation was exacerbated to a certain extent during the festive holiday period, with the normal seasonal peak in refuse produced coupled with reduced resources on certain public holidays. I am pleased to inform you that with the recent improvement in the weather the majority of these services are now returning to normal, however, I must warn you that further snowfall has been forecast for the coming weekend which may once again impact on this service.
Provided below is a general summary of the current situation, followed by further detail on an area basis.
Multi-Storey Locations – Collections from all multi-storey locations across the city are all currently up to date. Advance uplifts are continuing at a number of these locations to ensure refuse chambers within these properties have sufficient space to safely cope with any additional New Year refuse.
Kerbside Wheeled Bin Uplifts – The Service has returned to scheduled weekly uplifts for residents with kerbside collections. The vast majority of wheeled bins presented are now up to date citywide. Festive arrangements for kerbside wheeled bin uplifts were generally successful with certain allowances for delays due to weather. All New Year refuse will be collected from domestic wheeled bin routes by Sunday 9 January.
Back-Court and Lane Collections – These locations continue to present the most challenges at the moment and additional resources are being deployed to assist with dealing with the backlog in specific areas noted below. Priority will continue to be given to putrescible waste with recycling collections following thereafter.
Outstanding Collections – We continue to work closely with Customer & Business Services, sharing information and identifying and resolving known hot-spot locations.
Temporary Neighbourhood Refuse Deposits – Prior to Christmas, additional large bins were sited in neighbourhoods across the city in order to assist residents who wish to deposit excess waste. We have identified locations within each area where these additional refuse containers have been successfully utilised. At these locations the service will be extended until Friday 14 January in order to alleviate any local difficulties.
Commercial Collections – Have been largely unaffected and have now returned to normal.
Bulk Uplift – A limited service is being operated at present with priority being given to bulk materials already placed on the kerbside. The remaining resource from this service is currently assisting with domestic waste collections and will return to their core duties as soon as possible. Partner organisations such as GHA and GERA have also been providing much appreciated assistance with this service.
Area summaries are provided below with more detailed information.
North Area
Dawsholm
Wheeled Bin Routes – all up to date.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – all up to date.
St Rollox
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – all up to date.
South East Area
Polmadie Complex
Route
Wheeled Bin Routes – 2 hours behind.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – generally 2 days behind in Govanhill, Castlemilk and Shawlands areas. Up to 3 days behind in Gorbals and Mount Florida.
Additional resources are being deployed in each of the areas, to recover the outstanding backlog. As they become available resources from other areas in the city will be diverted to the South East in order to assist this worst affected area.
East Area
Eastern
Wheeled Bin Routes – 2 hours behind.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – half day behind schedule.
Easter Queenslie Complex
Wheeled Bin Routes – all up to date.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – 1 day behind (Tollcross area) additional resources deployed to clear backlog.
West Area
Western Depot
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – half day behind schedule.
South West Area
Wheeled Bin Routes – all up to date.
Tenemental/multi occupancy/lane routes (domestic waste) – 1 day behind.
Working closely with the Customer Care Centre, we are continually reviewing and responding to any addresses within the city where domestic refuse has remained uncollected for any substantial period. Close liaison with our colleagues in the Customer Care Centre has meant that for the period 1 Jan until 7 Jan 2011, we have managed to reduce the number of reported missed collections to 620 – representing 44% of the total for the same period last year. Notwithstanding any further adverse weather, we anticipate that we will return to a normal collection schedule by Friday 14 January.