‘We’re sorry’: Bryson addresses council after recycling collection backlog

Bryson Charitable Group has issued a formal apology to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and local residents following recent disruptions to recycling collection services.

Addressing the Mayor and elected members at an open council meeting on Monday 26 January, Bryson Charitable Group Chief Executive Shane Logan acknowledged the impact of reduced service levels and outlined the steps taken to restore normal operations.

Mr Logan confirmed that the backlog of missed collections has now been cleared and that recycling services across the borough are returning to their usual schedule. However, he said it was important that councillors and the public understood the factors that led to the disruption.

He explained that the implementation of the new stack system had been delayed from its original spring and summer start date due to issues beyond the control of both the Council and Bryson Recycling.

As a result, the roll-out of the Wheelie Box system took place during the more challenging autumn and winter period.

Mr Logan told the meeting:

“The delays and subsequent roll-out of the Wheelie Box system in autumn/winter led to initial teething problems for all.

“However, the key issues which impacted on recent collections were a shortage of trained HGV vehicle drivers (a UK-wide issue); an unprecedented spike in staff illness in December; and the adverse weather conditions at the start of January.”

Recovery plan and direct resident engagement

The Bryson CEO said a “robust recovery plan” had been agreed with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, with a strong emphasis on additional resources and improved communication, overseen directly by senior management.

He said:

“We doubled recruitment and training, drafted additional staff to improve quality, appointed on the ground teams to deal directly with complaints, and our senior team made in-person visits to around 200 residents who were most affected over the period of disruption.

“Since 19 January the backlog has been cleared and the few collections missed on planned collection days are routinely cleared the following morning.”

The direct engagement with residents was highlighted as a key part of the recovery effort, with senior Bryson staff visiting households most affected by missed collections to listen to concerns and provide reassurance.

Commitment to improvement and winter resilience

Looking ahead, Mr Logan committed Bryson to reviewing all operational plans to drive further improvement, strengthening communication with the Council and ensuring additional resources are in place, particularly during winter months when services can come under increased pressure.

As part of Bryson’s wider charitable mission, the organisation is also seeking to address the ongoing shortage of qualified drivers. Mr Logan confirmed that 12 trainees from Bryson Pathways have accepted work placements and have already begun HGV training.

Longstanding relationship with the borough

Referencing Bryson’s long history of working with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mr Logan stressed the organisation’s continued commitment to the area and its residents.

He said:

“I’m sorry for the circumstances that have led to my participation tonight. We know this has been painful for the Council and those you represent.

“Our recycling operation is based in your Borough; we employ over 160 staff from the Antrim and Newtownabbey area and together we lead best practice in recycling in Northern Ireland. By extending Kerbsort recycling into Antrim, you’re on course to achieve world-class levels of recycling and cost savings.”

He also highlighted Bryson’s broader social impact as a charitable organisation with a 120-year history and more than 1,000 staff across Northern Ireland.

Mr Logan added:

“It is also important that you are aware of our wider responsibilities and our contribution as part of the Bryson Charitable Group which is 120 years old with over 1000 staff.

“Every pound generated through our collection services is reinvested in the charity to help those in greatest need. In your Council area alone, we’ve supported over 1,000 of your lowest income households with emergency financial and other relief; we’ve enabled 40 long term unemployed to find jobs; and we’ve worked with 64 of your most deprived young people providing them with full time education to maximise their potential.

“We’ve worked effectively with Antrim & Newtownabbey Council for over 22 years including through covid when services dropped for only two days.

“We remain completely committed to doing our absolute best to serve you, delivering the high standards that the ratepayers in Antrim and Newtownabbey expect and deserve.”