Concerns raised over European bin shortage

Councils across the country are warning residents that deliveries of new recycling bins will be delayed because of a “manufacturing shortage”.

In the London borough of Lewisham, the council has claimed that the problem has been exacerbated by a fire at a major wheeled bin production plant in France which destroyed much of its stock and affected supplies in the UK – although the council was unable to identify which plant this was.

As a result, the local authority has explained that it may not be able to provide new black refuse and green recycling bins until November, is urging residents to share wheeled bins until new ones arrive and is to introduce interim measures, including the distribution of clear plastic recycling sacks in place of green bins.

In South Oxfordshire, the council has also admitted that it is experiencing problems with its garden waste receptacles.

Writing on the local authority's website, officers told residents: “We are currently experiencing a delay with our brown bin delivery (due to a manufacturing shortage) any orders placed after (and including) 27 June 2008 will receive a supply of garden waste sacks to use until their bin arrives. We hope to have all bins delivered by 5 September 2008.”

The comments follow concerns raised by Berwick-upon-Tweed council in May 2008 that increased demand from mainland Europe would make it harder for UK councils to procure new recycling bins (see letsrecycle.com story) and as problems were reported over the weekend throughout the national media.

Councillor Susan Wise, Lewisham cabinet member for customer services, said: “Unfortunately, the shortage of bins is affecting the whole of the UK, and not just Lewisham. We are asking residents who have requested a new bin to bear with us until we receive the stock that is on order.

She added: “If your neighbour has a recycling bin, could you ask them if they would share it with you until yours is delivered?”

Straight

Jonathan Straight, chief executive of container supplier Straight Plc, told letsrecycle.com that he did not think there was a shortage of bins, but that increasing demand meant that councils were merely having to wait longer for them.

He said: “There isn't a shortage, as such, just extended lead times due to high demand from Germany and Eastern Europe. So when you could have been able to get an order in four to six weeks before now it takes three to four months.”

Thefts

Potential delays for orders coincide with a number of councils seeing an increasing number of bins being stolen, which both Cotswold and Hounslow councils have drawn attention to.

In Hounslow, the council reported that a number of men posing as council workers have been dismantling bins and removing their frames across the London borough, and, since the start of June, the council has urged police action against the perpetrators.

Councillor Barbara Reid, lead member for environment, said: “This crime deprives people of an important amenity, and will leave them without recycling facilities for a period while we organise replacements. It will also impact upon the borough's overall recycling performance at a time when we have worked so hard to increase it.”

Hotline

At the same time, in Gloucester, South Cotswold police have set-up a hotline with Cotswold district council for residents to report stolen grey-wheeled and green recycling bins, as well as stolen garden waste licenses, following over 20 thefts in the area since April.

Councillor Mark Tufnell, Cotswold district council's portfolio holder for the environment, said: “The council would encourage all residents to look after their wheeled bins and other waste containers and store them in a safe place wherever possible.

“The council encourages residents to take responsibility for their bins by ensuring they are put out at kerbside for collection by 7am on collection day and no earlier than the previous evening. It also urges householders to return their containers to their property as soon as possible after collection is made to keep them safe and out of sight where possible,” he added.

A spokesperson from another local authority drew attention to the fact that the cost of replacing a damaged bin was £30, while local authorities were inclined to replace stolen bins for free. It is believed that this may result in some residents choosing to report a damaged bin as stolen to avoid paying for a replacement.

Peterborough

Last year, Peterborough city council had to spend £75,500 on replacing over 2,000 bins in the district following a rise in thefts, arson attacks and reports that some residents had turned their bins into impromptu wheelbarrows for garden and building equipment.

The gravity of the problem was encapsulated when a holidaying council worker found a Peterborough council bin being used on a Bulgarian building site to mix cement in.