Residents kicking up a stink at new bin system

The system was introduced recently by East Dunbartonshire Council - with refuse and recycling now being picked up seven days a week in a bid to save cash.

But just after the new waste collection began, complaints were flooding in to the Herald offices.

George Chalmers (78) of Ledi Drive in Bearsden can’t understand why his bins, along with three other houses, are collected on a different day to residents living opposite them on the same street.

He said: “It’s a total shambles - surely it makes more sense to collect the bins on the same day.

“I got a handwritten note through my door about a change to one of the collections.

“It’s totally confusing for everyone and I really don’t understand why they’ve done it.

“I’ve lived in Bearsden for 53 years and I’ve never seen anything so unorganised in all my life.”

Gordon Wallace from Kessington Square, Bearsden, was annoyed that his bin was collected three days later than it should have been.

He said: “When there’s a change it seems to take them about two weeks for them to get their act together.

“I’m getting really fed up of it.”

In Milton of Campsie, residents complained of being woken up before 7am.

One householder said: “I am an emergency service worker, I work on average 50 hours a week. I get up every day Monday to Friday at 5.30am to begin my shift which can be up to 12 hours long.

“I am furious that the council cleansing department have decided my right to a quiet Sunday morning family lie in has to cease with immediate effect.

“My whole family were rudely awoken at 7.20am by the sound of a roaring diesel truck engine, by a reversing alarm then the clatter, bang and smashing sound of the refuse bins being emptied. This is wholly unacceptable.”

Grace Irvine, Director of Neighbourhood Services, said: “We are sorry to hear some residents have been disturbed by the new waste collections.

“The shift changes have been a massive undertaking for the council, involving many months of planning. With any change on this scale, there are bound to be some minor teething problems.

“We are confident these will be ironed out in the coming few weeks and thank residents for their patience.”