Call for review as green bin collections are missed

9:37am Thursday 24th May 2012

By Observer reporter

Wharfedale councillors are backing an MP’s calls for an overhaul of “unacceptable” green bin collections across Leeds.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) is making the demand due to what he describes as a continuing spate of missed bin collections across his constituency, including in Otley and Yeadon.

Ward Councillors Ryk Downes and Colin Campbell (both Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) say they have also been getting regular complaints from residents, and are calling on Leeds City Council to take action.

In the worst case, at a 48-flat housing association complex in Newall Close, Otley, the green bins had, until last Saturday, only been emptied twice this year.

Coun Downes has also been made aware in the last three months of missed collections in: l Chippendale Rise, The Crossways, Whiteley Croft Rise and Manor Street, in Otley.

Coun Downes said: “The refuse service, whilst generally good, does keep failing in parts of Otley and Yeadon. In this case at Newall Close it’s been completely unacceptable, and it would appear to me that there are capacity issues on some of the routes in the Otley area.

“I’m calling on officers to get the routes sorted out and, when they do fail, make sure the collections are then made that evening or the following morning.”

Mr Mulholland said: “It is high time Leeds dealt with the problem of a growing number of streets being missed out of green bin collections, something which has now gone on for months.

“Families are struggling to store waste and the responses coming out of the council are woeful at best, making no visible attempt to end the current, unacceptable level of service.

“As it is, having green bin collections only once a month is completely inadequate and shows a lack of commitment to recycling by the council, but to then fail to even manage that is simply woeful.

“They must immediately review their services, as well as arranging special collections to those streets currently affected.”

Coun Campbell added: “I would support a review of green bin collections in the Otley area. Residents are keen to recycle and I feel the present poor service, with many areas suffering irregular or missed collections, is discouraging the increased take-up of recycling. I would also like to see regular fortnightly collections for the whole town.”

Leeds City Council’s executive member for Environmental Services, Councillor Mark Dobson (Lab, Garforth and Swillington) ) said: “I would like to personally apologise to any resident whose green bin has not been picked up, and inform them that we are arranging urgent back-up collections.

“We certainly do not take any misses lightly and will be working extremely hard to make sure they do not occur again.

“It is, though, disappointing that Mr Mulholland has decided to question the hard work and dedication of staff when the service collects about two million bins per month, and is currently recording about 50 fails in every 100,000.

“This performance has undoubtedly played a key part in boosting the city’s recycling rates to a record 40 per cent.”