Council warning after Helensburgh sees rise in fly-tipping

The recycling site at the seafront car park is one of several places across Argyll and Bute where fly-tipping has been reported since the council cut back on household waste collections due to reduced staff numbers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Household waste has also been left in litter bins in Helensburgh and elsewhere.

But Argyll and Bute Council leader, and Helensburgh councillor, Aileen Morton says the “vast, vast majority” of local residents deserve praise for behaving responsibly and not dumping their waste during the crisis.

It is not clear how much rubbish was involved in the incidents at Helensburgh, or how often they have occurred.

A council spokesperson said: “Sadly, there have been instances of fly-tipping at the pier car park recycling point and also household waste has been placed in litter bins.”

READ MORE: Fury as 'lazy' Helensburgh dog owners pile up waste on bins

Councillor Morton said: “It’s really unfortunate that a very small number of local residents have behaved selfishly in recent weeks – whether that’s fly-tipping or leaving dog waste lying about.

“It’s not fair on other local residents or on the council’s waste teams, especially when you consider the additional risks that Covid-19 has brought to every interaction.

“However, it’s clear that the vast, vast majority of our local community are doing their best to support each other and behave responsibly, and we shouldn’t lose sight of that.”

The council announced revisions last month to its waste collection schedule.

Uplifts of recyclable materials and glass have been suspended, and general waste collections are being carried out every two weeks, on the same dates as previously-scheduled recycling uplifts.

All the area’s ‘civic amenity’ sites, including the one at Blackhill in Helensburgh, have been closed until further notice.

However, public recycling points for glass, collection and cardboard, in Helensburgh and Lomond and elsewhere, are being emptied by council employees at least every four weeks, with people using them asked to observe social distancing measures while doing so.

Norman Muir, the convener of Helensburgh Community Council, praised the local authority for adjusting its bin collection schedule, but acknowledged the changes may have led to some “desperation” among householders to dispose of waste in other ways.

READ MORE: Fortnightly bin collections introduced across Argyll and Bute

Mr Muir said: “Fly-tipping is not a new phenomenon and I would expect Argyll and Bute to have built up some intelligence on likely dumping places and some form of observation to try and apprehend the offenders and cut down the prevalence of the offence.

“Having said that, if litter disposal outlets are unavailable there may be a degree of desperation to get rid of litter any way possible.

“Argyll and Bute Council’s laudable initiative to adjust the bin collection must have greatly helped households to keep on top of litter and avoid a build-up.

“The logical next step would have been to arrange the recycling centres to open at specified times to discourage fly-tipping, however the ramifications of staffing and further onward disposal of refuse in the chain may prevent this.”

Argyll and Bute Council issued a statement last Thursday following an incident in Lochgilphead which also saw bags of rubbish strewn across the ground.

Councillor Robin Currie, the authority’s policy lead for housing, roads and infrastructure services, said in the statement: “Our staff will have to wear full PPE to protect themselves from possible infection and cuts as they remove this rubbish – wasting time and resources we don’t have at the moment.

“If employees become injured or ill that threatens our ability to deliver the services communities need.

“Fly-tipping anywhere is not only unacceptable, it is also an offence.

“Please make sure you don’t put yourself at risk of prosecution under any circumstances.”

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