Glasgow waste bosses promise a new software system logging problems in real time will help them better manage piles of rubbish and alert residents if bins will not be collected.
A council official said a scheme means the public can be notified if refuse trucks fail to get to a street in time.
It comes as recycling rates in the city have increased by 5% in five years with the 2021 statistic – rising to almost 31%.
Plans to improve
Council executive director George Gillespie has admitted local authorities need to improve waste collection at recycling points – with photos of overflowing containers regularly posted on social media.
Answering questions at a council meeting, Mr Gillespie – patron of neighbourhoods, regeneration and sustainability, said: ‘In terms of some of the recycling points we need to improve our performance in terms of serving of these points. This is where data comes in.”
He said a new ‘Alloy’ system was being rolled out – which should help the council get real-time insight into what’s happening on the pitch.
He said: “Over the last five years our recycling rate in Glasgow has increased by 5% overall, which is a huge increase.
He added: “We are making huge strides in improving recycling performance in Glasgow. We have now provided all the infrastructure possible.
More instant information
The waste update was provided following questions from Councilor Ade Aibinu (Conservative) about bin collection statistics during this week’s Operational and Delivery Performance Review Committee.
The Victoria Park politician said the statistics presented to the litter committee did not reflect the situation on the ground
Manager Eileen Marshall said the new software will provide more instantaneous information – which could even alert residents when crews can’t get to their street to lift bins in time.
Ms Marshall said: “As part of our new Alloy program, we will be able to determine our activity. At the moment we are responding to a schedule. When we go out with this new software, we can capture streets that we failed to get to. We will alert the public proactively and then we can go back and fix it reactively – it could be due to a broken down vehicle or a blocked road.
She added: “At this time the numbers are determined by the public – we have no evidence that anyone hasn’t presented their bins.
She said collection times can be changed if a bin is overflowing all the time – signaled by recently introduced QR codes on bins
Stressing that the schedule responds to changing demands from the public, she said: “It’s about making sure we have the right data to provide the right service at the right time in the right area.”
