Food waste collections restarting
FOOD waste bin collections will return to normal across Inverclyde next week.
Separate uplifts of green food waste bins were temporarily suspended due to council staff shortages as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
The service will now resume on Monday 18 May.
It comes after brown garden waste bin collections and the sale of permits returned to normal a fortnight ago.
Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s Convener of Environment & Regeneration, said: “Disruption to waste services has been frustrating for everyone, including the hard-working council staff who have done ever so well to maintain weekly kerbside collections while carefully planning a return to full service during extremely challenging circumstances.
“Hot on the heels of dedicated brown bin collections and the sale of garden waste permits resuming a fortnight ago, I’m pleased that separate food waste uplifts will recommence next week.
“It’s another small but important step towards some form of normality during these unprecedented times.”
Council waste collection services had to be altered following lockdown seven weeks ago because of staff shortages due to people having to self-isolate or stay at home for medical reasons or through illness.
Changes also had to be made to ensure compliance with government social-distancing guidelines and other coronavirus restrictions.
Black residual waste bins have been collected every week instead of every fortnight to make up for disruptions to other waste services and to support local communities.
Blue recycling bin collections still remain suspended due to staff shortages among the council and its contractor, which collects and processes dry recyclable materials.
The council is continuing to work with the contractor to reinstate the blue bin service as soon as possible.
Plans are also being developed for the reopening of the municipal recycling centre at Pottery Street in Greenock once it is safe to do so and in line with government guidelines.
Green food waste bins should be left out by 7am on people’s regular weekly collection days in order to be uplifted.
The bins are for all sorts of leftover or unwanted food, such as raw and cooked meat, fish and eggs, as well as bones and shell, and even out-of-date food that is still in its packaging.
To obtain new food waste bags for inside the bins, residents should tie their last bag around the handle of the larger food waste bin on presentation day to alert collection staff who will leave a new roll.
For more information about the food waste and all other council refuse services, visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/recycling.