East
Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart has urged Mid and East Antrim Borough
Council to ‘make up its mind’ regarding a common bin collection system for the
entire borough. 4 years after they were amalgamated, Carrickfergus, Larne
and Ballymena, which makes up the new Council unit still have separate methods
of waste collection and recycling.
John
Stewart MLA said;
“The
Council had agreed and previously announced plans to have a common system of
waste collection with the introduction of a triple stack trolley bin for dry
recyclables being collected on a weekly basis.
“When
I checked recently I was told that the ‘kerbie box’ system will definitely be
replaced, with a move towards a weekly recycling bin collection system where
there will be a trolley style wheelie bin with 3 inserts for residents
separating their recyclables like paper, cardboard, plastics and glass before
presenting the bin on the footpath. This would basically be an adaption of the
blue bin system which has worked very well in Larne for years. I was told there
will be trials in Ballymena and Carrickfergus later this year.
“However,
I am very concerned to hear about the latest report presented at the April full
Council meeting where Councillors were told that, partly due to financial
constraints, a halt is being put on the roll out of the triple stack recycling
bins, and the whole plan is being reviewed with new reports pending.
Changes to the Chinese waste market and, almost inevitably, Brexit, have also
been cited as other reasons to re-think the direction of travel for harmonising
waste collection in the new borough.
“I am
even more concerned at the comments of a DUP Ballymena Councillor who, at the
meeting, was extolling the virtues of the current kerbie bin collection system
and wanting it to remain. What planet is he living on? In this day
and age, leaving out little plastic boxes, weighed down by breeze blocks to
stop them blowing away is ridiculous. I know that many Carrickfergus
residents are very critical of the kerbie system for dry recyclables. Many are
jealous of the blue bin system which has worked in Larne for quite a few years.
“Affordability
has, of course, got to be a major factor in changing any system, but the
Council needs to think about the cost of extra litter picking which is required
because of the frequency that the contents of these kerbie boxes end up flying
all over the place, ending up in the streets and hedgerows.
“The
Council has been talking about this issue for years. It needs to make up its
mind, stick to decisions already made and communicate this clearly to its
ratepayers.”
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