In light of the chaotic situation surrounding the roll-out of the new kerbside recycling system in Denbighshire, Dr James Davies has called on the Council’s Cabinet, Chief Executive and officers to urgently review the new system and to return to the use of the former co-mingled collections to deal with the backlog of missed bin collections.
Following the launch of the trolibocs system on June 3rd, the council, and local representatives, have been bombarded with complaints over missed collections, with some residents still waiting for a first collection.
Streets in areas across the county have been left with overflowing waste and social media sites are full of angry complaints from residents and businesses, with some threatening not to pay their council tax until their bins are finally collected.
In a statement on social media last week, James, who as the MP for Vale of Clwyd, strongly opposed the change to the new bin system and campaigned for several years against it, told residents:
“As we are in an election period, there are strict communication restrictions between election candidates and local public services such as the council.
Therefore, despite the many, many complaints I am receiving relating the rollout of the trolibocs system, I am unable to get the answers I usually would from the local authority.
“Nevertheless, I have contacted Graham Boase, Chief Executive and suggested that the rollout needs to be paused and an urgent return to the co-mingled blue bin is necessary before the situation gets out of hand, and fly tipping increases.
“I am aware that due to the level of understandable anger from residents across Denbighshire, the council has held an emergency meeting with councillors to discuss the urgent action required.
“I have strongly opposed this change since it was first considered. You can read more of my thoughts and about my campaign here: https://www.jamesdavies.org.uk/campaigns/retaining-blue-bin-denbighshire”
Over the weekend, the council put on extra collections to help deal with the backlog, but some areas - including parts of Prestatyn and Rhyl - were not included and residents are still waiting to be told when they can expect a collection.
James added:
“Residents are understandably very angry. The rollout should have been managed better and there really is no excuse for what we have witnessed.
"One of the council's best performing services has for now become one of its worst, at a cost of £22m to the taxpayer.
“The waste operatives have been working extremely hard and I, like many others, am extremely grateful to them for all their efforts in these pressured conditions. We must all remember that it is not their fault that we are in the position that we are.
“I really hope there are some serious solutions being discussed amongst the Denbighshire Cabinet and Leadership Team to ensure that collections going forward won’t result in areas being missed again, and that they do consider my suggestions to help resolve the current situation quickly. With the warmer weather this week, we really can’t have food waste left out on our streets longer than it already has been.”
