Food waste bins in Glasgow 'not collected for two years'

Discarded food waste has lain in grey bins in one Glasgow area for about two years, a meeting heard as a council officer faced complaints over collections.

John Thorburn, chair of NG Homes board, told the Springburn and Robroyston Area Partnership about the problem, which he has reported to no avail.

A council official said contamination of the grey bins has led to them having to be permanently removed in some areas.

Thorburn said yesterday: “A particular problem around us is actually the grey bins. They haven’t been done for two years as you have stopped collecting them.

“Unfortunately some of the bins have had food in them for two years. It is not healthy. Are you planning to restart that service to the flats?

“If you are not the bins should be uplifted and ordinary green bins put in rather than fill up back courts with bins that are not being used. It is pointless.”

Explaining there is an issue with some food waste bins, council officer Martin Lundie said: “We have had issues with these bins over the past while in terms of contamination.

“It prevents the staff from lifting them on a regular basis. Where that has become an issue we have removed them from properties.”

Pointing out he has been trying to get the problem sorted, Thorburn said: “I have been asking for the past six months. I was told ‘oh yeah we will come around and lift them’ No-one has bothered. They are still sitting there.”

Assuring him a supervisor will investigate the matter, Lundie said: “Sorry to hear that is the experience you have had.”

Praising the workers as “very good,” he said: “I’m not having a go at the staff – it is the end result.”

The meeting heard a grey bin at Springburn Parish Church has been “ignored” by council workers and green bins had not been emptied.

The council faced complaints over overflowing bins around the city after the festive period. The local authority said staff absences had impacted collections and apologised for delays.