Householders reminded not to tie or weigh down bins awaiting collection

Members of the public are being reminded that they should not weigh their green or grey bins down with stones or heavy objects when they are awaiting collection

Bungee cords or any other restraining device should not be used either.

Waste collection teams having to continually remove heavy objects or untie cords not only represents a possible health and safety risk to the crews - but also slows down collections, running the risk of collection routes not being completed within the time available.

Lorna Richardson is the Council's Interim Head of Neighbourhood Services.  She said: "We've issued regular communication over the last couple of years about this issue - it is not a change in policy or a new thing – but we do realise that not everybody will have seen this at the time. 

“However, with the winter drawing in we are again seeing an increase in folk weighing their bins down so we are asking them not do it as to protect our crews it will mean they simply won't be collected.

"We understand why people are doing it but our plea would be 'please stop'.  If you feel like it's too windy to put your bin out then leave it until the next collection, leave it out somewhere that is sheltered (but still accessible and obvious to the crews) or place the bin in such a way that the handles, rather than the lid opening, face into the wind.  Crews will also generally also lay a bin flat once it has been emptied so as to minimise the risk of it being blown into the road."

More information about household waste collections is available at www.orkney.gov.uk/mybins or on the OIC Waste and Recyling Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OrkneyReduceReuseRecycle