Fears over contractor’s continuing failure to empty bottle banks in far north
Multiple complaints have been made about Highland Council’s contractor failing to empty bottle banks across Caithness and Sutherland.
Several of the bins at Wick’s Tesco supermarket were seen chock-a-block with bottles and many were left on the ground contrary to the council’s advice on taking surplus bottles home.
The Thurso Community Noticeboard page on Facebook posted an update saying that the bottle banks at the town’s ‘lorry car park’ were completely filled up and residents were leaving their empties on the ground beside the bins.
The page admin said: “There is limited capacity, so if you have a quantity of glass to deposit, consider waiting a wee bit until the contractor trucks have been or take them to the Janetstown centre.
“Please don't leave glass on the ground. Beside the bottle bank is not in the bottle bank. An update will be provided when available.”
One comment on the post reads: “The ones in Reay are full to overflowing with bags of bottles in heaps on the ground. At least a couple of weeks and on the NC500 route too.”
A series of posts discussed bottle banks further afield with one contributor saying the facility at Tongue is full and that Melvich was overflowing “after not being collected for three months”.
“They are full and people are still leaving bottles beside them,” said one Facebook user.
More comments came in saying that Bettyhill bottle banks are also full. Alexander Glasgow, group administrator, said: “Melvich Community Council said there previously were technical issues with one of the Biffa trucks.
“Although they still operate it, I am led to believe the contract is being renegotiated.”
One woman pointed out a wider environmental issue: “I worry about broken glass harming the animals roaming freely.”
On the Highland Council website, there have been no updates on Caithness collections since September 9. A message posted by the local authority states: “We would like to apologise that some glass bottle banks across the region are full.
“Our glass contractor Biffa is experiencing vehicle difficulties which has impacted on servicing the glass recycling banks across the region. Biffa is working hard to catch up on the servicing of glass banks and they will be taking delivery of replacement vehicles imminently.”
On Wednesday (October 2), a Highland Council spokesperson said: “The council’s contractor was in Caithness on Monday servicing the glass banks.
“We are aware there are some banks which remain full in the area and are following this up with the contractor. Members of the public are reminded that if their local glass bank is still full, please avoid leaving any glass by the banks and instead take it away until the banks have capacity.”
