Bryson apology after meeting over missed waste collections

BRYSON Recycling says it is ‘working hard’ to restore normal waste collection services, after the company’s boss met with council Chief Executive Richard Baker last Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Bryson reported a ‘positive meeting’, saying: “We discussed the issues being raised and also the actions required to get our service back to a steady state as soon as possible,”

“We have agreed a recovery plan with the council and continue to work closely with council officers. We have recruited additional staff who are currently being trained and will be delivering front-line services in the coming days.”

However on Sunday, Antrim Town DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop shared a picture of overflowing bins and littered streets in the Greytone estate in Antrim.

He fumed: “Despite reassurance from Bryson, that missed black bin collections would be serviced on Saturday/Sunday across Antrim, I was in the Greystone estate this afternoon, and this was what I witnessed.

“I have since been informed, that this and other areas still have bins sitting out not emptied, despite other areas being serviced earlier this morning. I have communicated to senior management again, that this is unacceptable.

“It’s a total shambles and failure to the ratepayers. I can only apologise.”

Bryson said on Monday: “Our crews were out working across the weekend, with bin collections completed in the majority of areas.

“Recycling collections that were missed last week will be collected this week. Residents who have extra recycling can present it in overflow bags beside their Wheelie Box. Each bag should contain only one type of material. Please note that glass must not be placed in overflow bags.

“We would like to sincerely apologise to residents for the recent issues with our collection services and would like to reassure you that we are working hard to restore normal service levels as quickly as possible.”

DUP South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke has also waded into the debate, while at the Operations Committee last week, one rep said that the recovery plan ‘wasn’t worth the paper it was written on’.

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