‘Residents are annoyed’: Pressure mounts on Bryson Recycling after bin failures

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough councillors are demanding a meeting with contractor Bryson Recycling following complaints from residents about missed bin collections.

Members were given an update on the roll-out of the council’s triple-stack wheelie box bins in the Antrim area at a meeting of the local authority at Mossley Mill on Monday evening.

A council director said the roll-out had been completed “within schedule and on budget” to more than 25,000 households, with “minimal issues”, and that it had been overseen by an external monitor.

He reported a 20 per cent increase in recycling tonnage in November compared with the same period last year in the Antrim area.

The director went on to say he believed the roll-out had been carried out successfully, despite “a strong element of members of the public who were not keen on the change”.

However, he acknowledged that there have been issues with service delivery.

“We are working with the contractor on a daily basis,” he said, adding that he would go into further detail behind closed doors when the meeting moved into a confidential session.

Antrim DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM asked whether service issues were continuing.

“Whilst I know what recycling is about, it is the service I am concerned about,” he said.

Macedon Alliance Councillor Billy Webb MBE commented:

“It is well-known this council bucks the trend on many issues. That is why we were awarded Council of the Year. Our recycling rate is tops and we want to maintain that. The triple stack in Newtownabbey was a massive success and the ratepayer bought into that. Our recycling rate went up.

“I find myself now at a disadvantage. I have been contacted by so many constituents experiencing problems now that they weren’t experiencing before.”

Cllr Webb said the collection service was now “far from the standard we expect”.

“Residents are annoyed and members are frustrated,” he added.

He proposed that Bryson Recycling be brought before a meeting of the council.

Macedon Independent Councillor Stafford Ward said he was aware of between 400 and 500 bins that had not been emptied, some of which, he claimed, had been left uncollected for three to four weeks.

Airport DUP Alderman Matthew Magill seconded the proposal.

“I think all of us have been dealing with this issue for quite a number of weeks. Unfortunately, it keeps repeating itself,” he said.

“It has spread right across the borough. I think it is right that this council is given the opportunity to voice its dissatisfaction with the service delivery we have experienced on behalf of our ratepayers.

“The standard of service has fallen well below that which we have become accustomed to. The last number of weeks have demonstrated we have an issue. It is an issue we are going to have to grasp with both hands.”

Antrim SDLP Councillor Roisin Lynch said the situation had been “very distressing”, particularly for elderly residents, those who rely on assisted lifts, and people living up “long lanes”.

She said residents had been left “distressed, confused and annoyed”.

Cllr Lynch suggested the larger 240-litre black bins should have remained in place for several more weeks. In response, the director said departmental guidance required both new bins to be used at the same time.

Antrim Alliance Councillor Neil Kelly said he would welcome the opportunity to meet with Bryson Recycling.

“Ratepayers need answers to this,” he said.

Responding to a question from Cllr Kelly about glass collections, the director confirmed that the recycling figures for last month included glass collected from households in the Antrim area.

In a statement issued to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Bryson Recycling said:

“We apologise to residents for the recent issues affecting our collection services. These disruptions have been caused by staffing challenges resulting from the national shortage of drivers, along with unprecedented levels of sickness related to the current flu outbreak.

“Our teams have been working exceptionally hard to maintain collections, including undertaking evening and weekend shifts to ensure service delivery. We are working closely with council and taking all necessary steps to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and restore normal service levels.”