“Total shambles”: Anger grows as Bryson’s missed bin collections continue across Antrim & Newtownabbey

A less-than-pleased resident shared their frustration of the new kerbside recycling system implemented by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have highlighted ongoing concerns over missed bin collections, despite a recovery plan having been agreed last week between contractor Bryson Recycling and the borough council.

In an update on Monkstown and surrounding areas, Threemilewater DUP councillor Mark Cooper said in an online post:

“Despite assurances from Bryson that all missed recycling collections would be completed today (Sunday), this has not happened.

“I have been informed that while a very small number of streets were serviced, the vast majority of you still have unemptied kerbside boxes waiting. This is a total shambles and an unacceptable failure to our ratepayers.

“I have escalated this with senior management again to demand a resolution. My sincere apologies to everyone affected by this ongoing issue.”

In a separate social media post, party colleague Antrim councillor Paul Dunlop BEM said:

“Despite reassurance from Bryson, that missed black bin collections would be serviced on Saturday/Sunday across Antrim, I was in the Greystone estate this afternoon, and this was what I witnessed. I have since been informed, that this and other areas still have bins sitting out not emptied, despite other areas being serviced earlier this morning.

“I have communicated to senior management again, that this is unacceptable. It’s a total shambles, and failure to the rate payers.”

There has been an angry response online, with calls for a return to blue bin collections in Antrim.

One resident called for the “plug to be pulled” on Bryson and a return by the council to the former system. Another called for an emergency meeting of the council to be convened in a bid to end what was described in an online comment as the “fiasco once and for all”.

It was also stated online: “It is very clear why other councils have decided to return to the old blue bin system” and that “people feel like they are not being listened to”.

One woman said: “My house looks like its own recycling centre, there is no consistency, there is no communication, my home and street are a mess and now I’m recycling less than before the new system came in because the boxes have been full for three weeks now.”

Another commented: “The streets look bad enough between weeds and litter never mind the extra litter mess.”

In a statement, Bryson Recycling said:

“Our crews were out working across the weekend with bin collections completed in the majority of areas.

“Recycling collections that were missed last week will be collected this week. Residents who have extra recycling can present it in overflow bags beside their wheelie box. Each bag should contain only one type of material. Please note that glass must not be placed in overflow bags.

“We would like to sincerely apologise to residents for the recent issues with our collection services and would like to reassure you that we are working hard to restore normal service levels as quickly as possible.”

Commenting on last week’s meeting with Bryson Recycling, a spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said:

“Council had a productive meeting with representatives from the Bryson Group. The current concerns with the waste collection service were discussed and a number of measures to improve the situation will be implemented with immediate effect. Bryson officers will also be present at the next council meeting.”

Airport Sinn Féin councillor Annemarie Logue said online:

“I have been contacted by so many people over the last few months regarding their concerns in relation to the disastrous and disappointing bin collection services since September.

“I hear your frustration and anger and I am raising your concerns at every opportunity. As a councillor representing the Airport ward, I listened to concerned residents in 2019 and I voted against outsourcing waste management to a private company. Unfortunately we lost the vote.”

Behind closed doors at a meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in October 2019, it was proposed that the harmonisation of kerbside collections of all recyclable and residual domestic waste services be approved.

This included the provision of a 180-litre black bin collection service in legacy Antrim and the weekly collection of dry recyclables through a wheelie box (triple stack) container by an external organisation.

Twenty-three members voted in favour, with 13 against and one abstention. Minutes of the meeting also showed that during a public consultation with residents, 832 surveys were completed, with 60 per cent indicating the proposed changes would provide sufficient capacity.

Concerns were raised that recycling levels would decrease if blue bins were replaced. However, it was noted that when wheelie boxes were introduced in Newtownabbey, the amount of recyclables collected increased by 10 per cent, equating to more than 500 tonnes per annum.

The previous year, wheelie boxes outperformed blue bins, producing 50 per cent more recyclables per household.

It was also noted that the proposed wheelie boxes would offer 25 per cent more capacity than previous arrangements, with additional units available on request and overflow bags provided for specific types of materials.

In response to mobility concerns, councillors were told that an assisted lift option would continue to be available.

At the time, councillors were informed that 36,000 wheelie boxes were already in operation in Newtownabbey, with complaints standing at just 0.1 per cent.

It was further stated that approximately two-thirds of waste collection services were outsourced, with contracts “working well”.

Services outsourced since 2013 and 2018, including the collection of brown bins in Antrim and black bins in Newtownabbey, were said to have been “successfully delivered” through external contractors.

Council minutes also showed that the number of missed black bin collections reduced from 2,104 in 2017/18 to 1,484 in 2018/19, and 238 in 2019/20.