'Binfluencers' could be used to help keep residents informed after collections 'disaster'

IT’S been suggested that online ‘influencers’, AI or an app could help keep residents informed of how the new triple-stack recycling scheme is progressing and when their bins are due to be collected.

At a meeting of the Operations Committee of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, reps received an update on the ‘Harmonisation of Waste Collection Services’ - bringing the legacy Antrim area into line with Newtownabbey, primarily through the roll-out of triple-stack recycling boxes.

But since September and especially in the last fortnight, there have been delays and missed collections, compounded by ‘significant’ levels of sickness and absence within the contractor Bryson Recycling, as well as bad weather, IT and postal issues.

Last week, the council’s Bin Checker function was not working properly and delays with Royal Mail were blamed for information letters not going out.

Dunsilly DUP Councillor Linda Clarke hit out at a lack of communication and notification, saying that residents were in the dark about when their bins and boxes were being collected.

Michael Laverty, Director of Sustainability, accepted that the situation was ‘unacceptable’ and said that complaints would be fed back to Bryson. But Councillor Clarke said that what Bryson was telling council staff, and what residents were telling elected representatives, were at odds with one another.

She reported one side of a road having their bins and boxes collected, but not the other, with a Randalstown resident barricaded into their home by emptied receptacles left in their gate way.

Eamonn McLaughlin of Sinn Fein said he had received an ‘unprecedented level of complaints’ and said that he and neighbours were forced to clean up their own street after claiming that a collection team had left ‘a trail of mess’. Mr Lavery said that council did not expect residents to clean up their areas, and encouraged local people to take pictures of any issues.

He also later added that a contingency plan had been launched in response to the issues at Bryson and admitted that some calls received by staff had been ‘difficult’.

UUP Councillor Robert Foster described the situation as a ‘perfect storm’, but said that people would have understood better, had communications not been ‘very grey, very woolly’ and suggested employing the assistance of AI or the NextDoor app.

Alliance Town Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly said that council had ‘lost the confidence of ratepayers in regards to bin collection’.

He said: “We can improve our communications, but we are paying a contract to get our bins emptied. We need to hold Bryson to account. I understand sick leave, but we have had a lot of time to prepare for this.

“The bottom line is that we are paying money, and not getting the service and we need to get the confidence back for our ratepayers.”

Sinn Fein Councillor Anne Marie Logue described widespread disruption to bin collections in Crumlin, as ‘nothing short of a disaster, which has left residents frustrated with council services’. She said that bins and boxes were not lifted as scheduled, and stormy weather made matters worse with rubbish blown around by strong winds.

Councillor Logue said: “This is one of the most basic services the council provides and residents rightly expect it to be carried out properly. Instead there was confusion , a lack of robust communication and no clear plan in place. Bins were left out for days and crews were still working over the weekend to catch up. When I contacted waste management I was informed there was a manpower/ resource issue. This is a very disappointing start to the new triple bin roll out in the Antrim side of the Borough People want to recycle, but council need to get the basics right first.

“At Monday night’s Operations meeting I sought urgent reassurances that waste collections will proceed as scheduled in the weeks ahead and that residents will be properly informed of any changes.”

At the meeting she said that information given to residents was ‘completely confusing’ and that ‘rubbish is everywhere’, adding: “It was terrible communication, and staff are getting abuse. It is not a good look. We need to step back and have a long, hard look at what has happened.”

It has been reported elsewhere that Bryson Recycling, which provides recycling collection services to around 160,000 households in four council areas, has reported ‘delays on some collection rounds across all council areas where we operate...due to staff shortages resulting from unprecedented levels of sickness and a national shortage of drivers’. The firm has said it is taking ‘all necessary steps to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.’