More bin changes mooted for Preston

Some Preston households may see their bin collection day changed for a second time since the spring in order to resolve problems that have arisen following a major shake-up of the city’s waste service.

The overhaul came back in April when weekly food waste collections were introduced in Preston as part of a nationwide rollout.

At the same time, Preston City Council redesigned its collection routes and timetables for the first time in 14 years in an attempt to make them more efficient. The move resulted in bin pick-up days changing for the majority of homes.

However, the revised set-up has been beset with issues, leaving residents in some parts of the city facing repeated missed collections of all types of waste. As the Local Democracy Reporting Service has previously revealed, one street in Ashton did not have its recycling bins emptied for five weeks.

The city authority has blamed the problems on the late delivery of the new wagons needed for the food waste service – and the knock-on effect that has had on all elements of their waste collection operation.

A meeting of the full council on Thursday heard that a shortfall in suitable vehicles remained, but was on the way to being rectified – with the last three outstanding bin lorries due to be delivered by August at the latest.

However, amid an appeal for patience, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and neighbourhood services Zafar Coupland also hinted at a more fundamental problem which may mean further alterations to the waste collection calendar for some households.

“In the long term, some properties may have to have collection days changed to another day,” said Cllr Coupland, who only recently assumed responsibility for the city’s waste after her cabinet health portfolio was expanded.

“Officers are looking at this – and other issues – to ensure that residents will have [the] settled and [effective] collection service that they’re used to.”

The changes introduced on 20th April revolved around ensuring every address has its bins emptied on the same day within the usual fortnightly collection cycle, alternating between general waste and recycling, with food waste being taken away every week.

Previously, some households had their recycling picked up one day one week and their general rubbish on another day the next. Cllr Coupland was responding to a question from Preston Rural East ward member Mark Bell, who said residents in his area were “tired of being ignored”.

“When [the council] announced the new collection schedule, we were promised a clean start. Instead, the rollout has been absolute rubbish.

“Weeks after the launch, my inbox is completely overflowing with complaints from angry constituents whose bin collections are repeatedly being missed.

“It seems whenever [we ask] for a clear timeline [of] when these issues will be resolved, we’re treated to the same recycled excuses about broken and limited vehicles and a bedding-in period,” Cllr Bell said.

Cllr Coupland acknowledged residents were “concerned” about the situation and said she wanted to give “a full explanation”.

She told the meeting: “The introduction of food waste collection was in response to central government [requiring us] to provide this service. This requirement – placed on all councils – has led to difficulty in acquiring specialist collection vehicles and this has impacted Preston and other councils nationally.

“All our collection vehicles should have been with us in January this year. However, we are still awaiting delivery of three of these vehicles – [out] of eight [ordered]. We anticipate that we will have [them] in July or August.

“[The delay] has meant that the waste team has had to use vehicles that would not usually [be deployed] for this type of collection, decreasing efficiency and putting additional strain on the supervision of collection staff.

“The problems with food waste have also added to the difficulties associated with large-scale [collection] round changes. These changes always have some impact on collections – as both crews and residents get used to new collection days and times, inevitably, some mistakes are made and some tweaks are required.

“The impact of the food waste issues have made it more difficult for our ops team to deal with these tweaks and changes, as have some other factors, such as [a] fire at the waste transfer station [at the docks]. But they’re working through these issues – and I know…[the] team is doing a fantastic job…and problems are being resolved,” Cllr Coupland concluded.