Aberdeen bin lorry drafted in to help clear city rubbish

A BIN lorry has been drafted in from Aberdeen to help clear a backlog of rubbish on Edinburgh's streets.

Council chiefs agreed have secured the use of the vehicle – for an undisclosed sum – after five of their seven broke down.

The problem has affected all areas where large communal black bins are used, as they use specialised vehicles to lift and empty the giant bins.

Residents have reported bins piled high with rubbish in Polwarth, Dalry, Marchmont, Easter Road and Morningside. The problem was exacerbated by difficulties obtaining spare parts due to European summer holidays.

The council turned to Aberdeen to help this weekend because it is one of the few other council areas to use similar vehicles.

They have also repaired one of the five broken lorries. Refuse collectors will be working extra shifts for the next few days in an effort to clear the backlog.

A city council statement said: "Due to these mechanical breakdowns the service has only been able to provide two vehicles per day Monday to Friday in service over the last fortnight. This has meant that most side-loading waste containers within the city are being emptied at a reduced frequency.

"Additional crews have been provided to lift all excess waste from around bin locations as required, until a normal service has resumed. Taskforce resources are also being utilised to assist in collecting excess bags."

They said the vehicles would be working double shifts to try and clear the backlog by early next week. Mechanics are on standby to repair the remaining four vehicles as soon as parts arrive.

The council's services for communities and corporate services department is investigating a different arrangement for maintaining the lorries, to reduce the chances of it happening again.

Councillor Maureen Child, Labour's environment spokeswoman, said: "I'm very glad it's going to get sorted. These are very specialised lorries – one or two breaking down is a misfortune, but five at once is a near disaster. I've observed some of the chaos with bins overflowing.

"Certainly management needs to get its act together to ensure this doesn't happen again."

She added: "It's very generous of Aberdeen to lend us a lorry. I do appreciate the time and effort refuse collectors have put in to minimise the rubbish piling up."