Recycling on Caellepa not up to scratch

Jun 10 2009 By Michelle Coyle

CAELLEPA residents are up in arms over the "poor" recycling service they receive.

Bangor resident Josie Russell has slammed Gwynedd Council for the frequent problems with waste and recycling collections on the road in lower Bangor.

Josie Russell, 22, said: "The poor recycling service irritates me. I try to recycle all my glass jars, tins and paper but sometimes the binmen don't take them and I don't know why. If you put plastic bottles into the recycling box, they leave everything. I now have to drive to Tesco or the docks to recycle."

Josie says that the dire situation has not improved over the three years she has lived on Caellepa.

Earlier this year, wheelie bins and recycling boxes were taken from outside by Gwynedd Council. Residents are now being forced to leave bin bags out in the street, which have been ripped by seagulls and hooligans.

Gwynedd Council claim that containment sacks are also available to protect black refuse sacks from attacks by vermin, but Caellepa residents report that these have failed to be delivered. months after being requested.

Josie, a Coleg Menai graphics student, said: "I have been asking if they will bring back the wheelie bins as I have to leave my bin bags in the kitchen which isn't very nice. especially in the summer.

"There is lots of rubbish on the street and when drunks go past, they smash glass on the road from uncollected recycling boxes.

"I used to take my two cats for walks up Bangor Mountain all the time but there has been so much rubbish up there since Easter I don't want to go anymore.

"I'm just about to graduate and will be paying council tax but you don't get anything for it on Caellepa. On Anglesey, people have caddies for kitchen waste and plastic is collected from the door but that doesn't happen here. It's really bad."

"I have been emailing the council to try and sort it out but haven't had a satisfactory response. I have also been trying to get a compost bin for months but have not heard anything back."

Despite recycling boxes belonging to Mail staff going uncollected last week, a council spokesman said: "The recycling collection service for the Caellepa area was carried out as normal on June 3. We appeal to any resident who is unhappy with this service, or has questions about where and when to put their blue box for collection, to contact Gwynedd’s Recycling Helpline on (01286) 679872 and our staff will do everything we can to help.

"Arfon residents can now put cardboard and plastic bottles in the blue box, along with glass, paper, food and drink cans, aerosols, foil and household batteries. We would ask that cardboard intended for recycling is cut up so that it fits in the box.

"Residents are allowed a green wheelie bin, provided that it is not left out on the pavement after collection. Any bins found on the street when it is not collection day will be removed.

"People who make a request for a compost bin go on a waiting list and will be contacted by Gwynedd Council when the bins become available."

Councillor John Wynn Jones, chairman of Bangor Pride, said: "The Bangor Pride initiative is aimed at improving the look and feel of Bangor by pooling the resources and expertise of several public sector agencies, private businesses and community groups.

"Bangor Mountain is an area that Bangor Pride intends to focus its efforts on, making it a more pleasant area for people to enjoy the outdoors."

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: "We would remind people that dropping litter and fly tipping is an environmental crime – not only can it pose a health risk to other people and wildlife, but can also lead to a financial penalty. Gwynedd Council’s Enforcement Wardens will be monitoring the situation and investigating instances of littering and fly tipping."