Caught out by bin lid policy

The Ballymena Times received a number of calls and facebook messages last week from people who found that council workers had refused to empty their bins - because the lid was not firmly shut.

But Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has told those who complained that the new bin rules were sent to every household well in advance and that the lid law will continue to be enforced throughout the area.

In a statement to the Times, the Council said: “Households in the Ballymena area received details of the Council’s new policy in their bin collection calendar, which was distributed to every household during March.

“The new policy came into operation on the 1 April 2015. This aligned residents in the Ballymena area with those in Carrickfergus and Larne, whereby all refuse bins should be presented with ‘closed lids’.

“A small number of residents have been in contact with the Council and raised concerns regarding issues around non-collection.

“Council staff have contacted those residents and advised them of the Council policy and the implications of presenting bins with open lids.

“These include attracting vermin, windblown litter and health and safety issues. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council believe that through maximising recycling of waste - using the various boxes and bins provided that householders should have sufficient capacity within the grey bin.

Council would seek the continued cooperation of residents to maximise recycling, thereby reducing waste disposal costs, which for the new Mid and East Antrim borough amount to approximately £3.5 million per year.