Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Residents will be allowed to ‘share’ recycling bins with their neighbours once a new collection fee is introduced by Midlothian Council.
The council is preparing to become the second local authority in Scotland to charge for garden waste collections from March next year.
But with only 50 per cent of residents expected to take up the new £35 annual fee, the local authority is proposing a range of measures to cope with the expected backlash.
They include allowing people to do deals with neighbours to share a brown bin, cutting the number of visits they can make to recycling centres with vans or trailers each year in half and hiring a full time delivery driver whose sole job will be replacing and repairing damaged bins.
In a report on the changes to the service, officials said “Residents can share a bin with a neighbour/s, but one person must pay for the service and the bin will be collected from one address.
“Any sharing agreement is a private matter and does not involve the council.”
The local authority said that based on the experience of Angus Council, the only one in Scotland with an established chargeable garden waste service, they expect only half of the 38,000 households who currently have a brown bin to keep it once the fee is introduced.
It also expects around 10 per cent of the 6,280 tonnes of garden waste collected over the last financial year to be dumped in its grey bins, which are collected free of charge and are for non-recyclable items.
Concerns over an increase In local “man with a van” services charging people to collect their garden waste and taking it to the dump for free, the local authority proposes to reduce the number of visits households are allowed with a van or trailer from 12 times a year to just six.
They also plan to make all vans and trailers book in advance rather than just some over a certain size to “remove the risk that van users start to use smaller trailers”.
They also intend to employ a deliver driver to deal with bins which are damaged because people overload them or need replaced quickly.
They said: “As a chargeable service customers will expect rapid delivery of a replacement bin.
“To ensure the timely delivery it is proposed to recruit a dedicated delivery driver with responsibility for bin delivery and bin repair.
“Their role will not be devoted to brown bins only, but will deliver, repair and replace all waste and recycling containers.”
A report to Midlothian Council reveals it is anticipated the new charges will generate an income of £550,000 in its first year after costs.
Local indie/rock artist Duncan Murray was featured here in Midlothian View back in January following the launch of his debut solo EP – Power of Suggestion – an eclectic four track record showcasing some impressive musicianship and vocals. The record received much Scottish airplay and the track ‘Forest Fire’ even charted in one of the Scottish new music charts in January.
Following up his EP and confidently kicking off 2017, Duncan today releases his new single ‘When Echoes Don’t Come Back’. The artist proudly and simply describes the new single as “a bright, 90s style indie track with a great chorus!” and is definitely worthy of an addition to your 2017 playlist.
Duncan’s new single received its first radio airplay on Midlothian’s own Black Diamond FM last Saturday and has now been played on several stations across the mid and east Lothians. Duncan confirms “the reaction has been positive so far and I hope as many people as possible will give it a chance, take a listen and tell me what they think”.
New single When Echoes Don’t Come Back by Duncan Murray is out now on Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify and all other good digital platforms.
Check out his Facebook page for more information: www.facebook.com/duncanmurraymusic
Cameron Houston of AM Bid Services.
It’s startling to learn that 2 people die in Scotland every day because of suicide and that it is the biggest killer of men under 35.
To tackle this, a global suicide prevention movement has been initiated by Josh Quigley, The Tartan Explorer. The movement which started in November 2015 has already touched the hearts of over 1 million people in over 40 countries worldwide and counting.
Lothians based Bid Specialists, AM Bid Services have been actively following and supporting The Tartan Explorer’s truly inspirational expedition since the beginning. Adventurously, they are now taking their support for the cause ‘up a gear’ and sending their very own, Bid Development Executive, Cameron Houston to cycle alongside Josh for the duration of one of his globe-trotting routes. Cameron is the youngest member of the AM Bid Services team, and at 24, is the same age as Josh.
Cameron will fly out from Edinburgh Airport on Monday, 3rd April to meet Josh in Nice. The pair will then set off for Monaco and from there will cycle nearly 400km across the south of France, finishing in Pisa in Italy’s Tuscany region.
Speaking of his upcoming cycle with The Tartan Explorer, Cameron Houston, said: “I’m really looking forward to spending time with Josh – I’ve followed his story along with everyone else, and being able to join him for a week will be an amazing experience. The route we’ve picked is great too – Josh has already planned everything in detail. I appreciate the marvellous opportunity I am getting here and I’m very thankful to Josh, Andrew Morrison and our team for giving me the platform to do this. It will be a special week on my career bidding journey with AM Bid Services- something different and exciting!”
Speaking of Cameron joining him on this leg of the Cycle the World Expedition, Josh Quigley, The Tartan Explorer said: “AM Bid Services have been massive supporters of my challenge from the very beginning and I’ve always felt they were here with me in spirit. With Cameron now joining for a week it means they will really be out here with me. I’ve cycled for the last 9,000 miles alone and I’m really looking forward to having some company and to share the experience for a short period.”
Impressed and invested in The Tartan Explorer’s passion for the cycle Expedition, Andrew Morrison, AM Bid Services, Managing Director said: “AM Bid Services have been supporters of Josh Quigley and his Cycle the World Expedition from the outset. Josh is doing outstanding work raising awareness of suicide prevention amongst young people and our team takes considerable inspiration from his journey. We are delighted that Cameron wants to show his support by spending a week cycling with Josh and getting first-hand experience of the Tartan Explorer Expedition. We are also more than a little jealous of his route along the Mediterranean coastline of the south of France and northern Italy!”
Like us, we ask you that from reading this article, you help our friend, The Tartan Explorer continue his important Expedition.
To pledge your support to The Tartan Explorer please click HERE.
The message of The Tartan Explorer is clear: Any life can be brought back from the brink to achieve something incredible.
