Bins left spilling over after Belfast changes collection day

Belfast City Council for good reasons decided to alter bin collection days for many areas.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Oct 2016, 19:42 BST
Updated 27th Oct 2016, 17:31 BST
Bin changes and the confused information led to collection chaosBin changes and the confused information led to collection chaos
Bin changes and the confused information led to collection chaos

A letter was issued and entrusted not to Royal Mail but to a contractor.

Thousands were found in a skip – undoubtedly perfectly ready for collection by a council bin lorry!

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But unfortunately not of great use to the intended recipients. Collection chaos ensued.

A message was issued and reported on the internet that certain households (including ours) could leave bins out to be collected by Sunday 23 October.

So thousands don’t ring up to complain. Come Sunday in our area of BT4 the streets and roads were accordingly lined with bins not previously collected but Sunday came and Sunday went.

Not a bin lorry in sight. Only a second letter from the council (delivered efficiently by Royal Mail this time) making no mention of the earlier promise.

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We could, it said, leave extra rubbish beside the bins for the next regular collection (1st of November in our case – well into the fourth week.)

Wonderful. Cock-up. Broken promise. Bins spilling over.

Ready meals for the rats.

Eric Lowry, Belfast BT4

Related topics:BelfastBelfast City CouncilRoyal Mail