THIRTY black wheelie bins have been lost in the back of refuse vehicles since November, the Leader can reveal.
Bins have been ‘eaten up’ during the transfer of rubbish because of a technical problem with the fleet, according to information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
Waste bosses at Flintshire Council say the fault is being rectified.
Steve Jones, head of Streetscene, said: “Approximately 30 bins have been ‘lost’ in the back of refuse vehicles in the period since the launch in November.
“The vehicles are being ‘calibrated’ to stop this happening in future and the bins are retrieved at the transfer pad.
“The number of occurrences has reduced as the vehicles have been calibrated and the crews are recording where bins have been lost, in order that replacements can be provided.
“Bins lost for this reason will be replaced free of charge to residents.”
Connah’s Quay councillor Aaron Shotton is urging binmen to make residents aware if their bin has been lost, instead of leaving them to think it has been stolen.
“At first residents thought they had been stolen,” he told a meeting of the council’s environment overview and scrutiny committee.
“At the very least you think binmen could put a note through the door telling residents what had happened to their bin.”
Flintshire Council introduced a managed weekly collection service in November in a bid to increase recycling rates across the county.
Under the new system, recycled waste is collected on a weekly basis while residual waste is collected fortnightly. The meeting was called for members to consider a brand new catalogue of targets for Streetscene staff.
Among the 45 targets was a pledge to collect missed waste bins in 24 hours and deliver new wheelie bins or recycling sacks within six days. Bosses said they would also respond to reports of fly-tipping within 24 hours, instead of the current five days. “We have set ourself some tough targets,” said Mr Jones. “We want to get this mess out of the way as soon as possible do it doesn’t encourage more fly-tipping.
“We will take enforcement action where appropriate and issue fly-tippers with a £60 fine.”
They also vow to empty dog bins every two days, remove offensive graffiti within six hours and respond to reports of sharp objects and needles within two hours.
- COUNCILLORS at the meeting also considered a brand new grass-cutting policy created by a Streetscene task group.
The authority will cut roadside verges four times a year, amenity areas such as parks at least 13 times a year, public footpaths at least four times a year and ‘high-profile’ areas like village gateways up to 30 times a year.
Removal of grass cuttings will only take place on bowling greens and a limited number of high profile’ grass areas.