Perth & Kinross Council will make temporary changes to its kerbside waste and recycling services from Wednesday 6 January 2010 to improve the overall collection service during the adverse weather.
The prolonged snowfall, freezing conditions and lack of any thaw has meant that many priority roads have had to be treated repeatedly following snow falls. As a result many non-priority routes have received less treatment than the Council would have liked. This means that refuse vehicles cannot safely gain access to some minor roads, side streets and cul-de-sacs.
As the weather forecast continues to indicate further freezing temperatures and snowfall over the next two weeks, Perth & Kinross Council has taken the step of temporarily suspending garden and food collections (brown lidded bins) and Dry Mixed Recyclate and paper collections (blue lidded bins) across the local area.
The temporary suspension starts with immediate effect and will run until Friday 22nd January 2010. If the temporary suspension has to be extended after that date, a further update will be issued.
The change in collection arrangements will enable the Council to direct staff and vehicles to collect general waste, and to helping those customers who receive an Assisted Lift Service. This will allow the Council to clear up the backlog of uncollected waste.
Green lidded bins
Residents’ green lidded general waste bins will be collected on the next scheduled collection dates for both green lidded and blue lidded bins. Householders should refer to their relevant collection calendars. Green lidded general waste bins will be collected where it is safe for the vehicle to access the road and it is possible to uplift the bins.
To help remove the backlog of waste the Council would ask that where possible, householders who live in areas where the refuse vehicles have been unable to access, take their general wheeled bin to the nearest main road, or road which is clear of snow and ice, on their scheduled collection days as their own area may still remain inaccessible to refuse collection vehicles.
Householders who are unable to do this are asked to either take their waste to the nearest Recycling Centre or store their waste until the current weather conditions improve. Any excess waste should be bagged.
Bagged side waste placed beside the green lidded general waste bin will be collected during this temporary period
We would ask residents to ensure that any bins or bags which are put out for collection are accessible for collection crews to uplift, for example not hidden behind drifts of snow.
Blue and Brown lidded bins
If householders have blue and brown lidded bins that are full of recyclable or compostable materials, these should be put out on the kerb once collections return to normal. If householders have excess recyclable or compostable materials, this should be put in the general waste bin, or put in bags for collection with general waste, during this exceptional period.
Alternatively, householders can dispose of both general waste and recyclable material at Recycling Centres throughout Perth and Kinross. Recyclable waste such as cardboard, paper and glass can also be taken to your local Recycling Point, a full list of which can be found on www.pkc.gov.uk
Businesses
Businesses whose waste collections have been affected by the adverse weather should present their general waste bins as per their scheduled collections. Any excess waste should be bagged and placed beside their bin.
Real Christmas Trees
Real Christmas tree should taken to your nearest recycling Centre and placed in the garden waste skip. Real trees can also be chopped up and placed in your brown lidded bin or alternatively placed in your green lidded bin.
The Council would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience that has been caused by disruptions to their kerbside waste and recycling services and asks for their patience and support in what are unique and difficult circumstances.
Environment Convener Councillor Alan Grant said:
"The current extreme weather conditions are having a significant impact on us all but I would like to reassure residents that we are doing our best in difficult circumstances to provide as helpful a service as possible. If you can, please help our refuse collection teams by putting out your bin in an appropriate place where it can be picked up and emptied. We will be keeping the weather situation under review and I hope we can return to our normal service as soon as possible."
For further information please call (01738) 476476, visit
www.pkc.gov.uk/recycle or e-mail
recycle@pkc.gov.uk
