MAKING changes to bin collections just before Christmas has caused “chaos and confusion”, according to an opposition councillor.

Renfrewshire Council’s new refuse service - which aims to boost recycling - was rolled out at the beginning of December.

It saw residents issued with a new green bin for plastics, cans and glass - meaning the blue bin is now for paper, card and cardboard only.

READ MORE: New recycling bins set to be delivered across Renfrewshire

Meanwhile, grey general waste bins will be collected once every three weeks, instead of once a fortnight.

However, the timing of the change has been criticised by Labour Councillor Derek Bibby.

He said: “From the number of complaints and discussions at community councils and with resident groups, it is clear there is chaos and confusion over the changes.

“Nothing could demonstrate this more than the decision to implement the changes in December.

“Who on earth thought December was the most appropriate month to implement these changes?

The Gazette:

Labour man Derek Bibby is not impressed with the timescale on the changes 

“It is the month for peak household waste, one for the worst weather and changes have to be made due to there being no collections on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

“Issues have arisen from the reduction in grey bin collections to three weekly and there have been problems of where to put an extra bin.

“The administration has refused to do a consultation on a policy that it has introduced and effects every household in Renfrewshire. It has cost £1.3 million already in providing everyone with a green bin.

“The priorities here are completely absurd. They should undertake a review of the future rollout of bin collections and fully involve the people of Renfrewshire in that review.”

An emergency motion calling for an urgent review into the bin changes was not accepted at full council recently.

SNP Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, defended the changes and said the motion should have been placed on the meeting’s agenda.

She said: “This policy change has been in the works for a number of years covering different political administrations, including the last Labour one.

“Labour councillors could have placed the item on the agenda but chose to place an emergency motion knowing it would fail. It’s deeply cynical and disturbing.

READ MORE: Anger over council’s plan to reduce bin collections

“We are compelled by legislation and the impending closure of landfills to change our collection system.

“That requires additional expenditure in the bins that residents need. It will save the council millions of pounds in the long run and increase our recycling rate.

“We know Labour aren’t great at planning ahead but these are changes that if they do not go ahead will cost Renfrewshire residents millions of pounds in increased fees.

“Perhaps if they had taken more action on this front we would be in a better position than we are now.

“I appreciate that the waste changes will take local people some time to get used to and there was always going to be issues at first but we are working hard to ensure all complaints are dealt with quickly and efficiently.”