Rubbish is piling up in the streets of Glasgow following ‘unofficial industrial action’ by bin men in the city.

In some areas bins haven't been emptied for weeks and residents are becoming increasingly concerned about public health. 

Ross Wilson, a resident in Tantallon Road in the city’s south side, is just one of them. He said: "I am concerned that domestic refuse hasn’t been lifted for 18 days. The bin shed is a bit of a mess and is starting to potentially become a health hazard.

"I live on the ground floor. I am a bit worried about the presence of rats getting into my flat and obviously that will be worse for any families with children.

"I am also concerned that Glasgow City Council appears to have hidden this situation from the people of the city. I have been unable to obtain a satisfactory response from them as to when this problem might be resolved as to when my bins might be emptied. They seem to have just described this as ‘operational difficulties’."

He added: "I thought it would be a simple question for them to answer. I can’t get a response from anybody at the council. I had someone from environmental health visit me, and he said there had been complaints from other properties throughout the city and there had been reports of some rats in some premises as well."

STV News spoke to a bin man who is working in the affected areas, which are predominantly in the south-east and east of the city.
He said the refuse collectors are working to rule.

He added: "Over the past few months, we have been indirectly threatened by management if we don’t do what we are told to do we can get indirectly sacked, demoted.

"We are now more or less on a work to rule. We are trying to stop new contracts coming in - four on, four off. What is going to happen is that if we accept four on, four off we are going to be working the weekends without any extra money. The rubbish is piling up."

A spokesman from Glasgow City Council responded: "Domestic refuse collections are currently being disrupted by unofficial industrial action, which the council is working very hard to resolve.

"Problems are most pronounced in the east and south east of the city and, although most routes are simply running behind schedule, we are aware that some homes - particularly among those normally receiving a back court collection - have been missed altogether.

"We are focusing all our available resources to deal with the backlog of work, and would appreciate residents’ help in placing only essential items for collection. We apologise for the inconvenience this unofficial action is causing to householders across the city."