llanblogger complains to watchdog about county's new waste system

Llanblogger’s Phil Robinson has lodged an official complaint with Wales’s public services watchdog against Denbighshire County Council for the problems caused by the recent introduction of its new household waste recycling scheme.

And he has told the Public Services Ombudsman’s office in Cardiff, which investigates complaints and works to improve standards within public bodies, that he wants them to ensure that himself and the many other Denbighshire residents affected by these problems are provided with "the regular and efficient waste collection system which they pay for and deserve”.

In his online complaint form, submitted yesterday (Monday) morning, he says: “After much fanfare, the county council launched a new household recycling scheme, based on a Troliboc or a moveable stack of plastic boxes, rather than wheelie bins, on June 3.

“Since day one of the new system things have gone badly wrong, not just in my immediate area but also across the whole of the county.

“Many complaints have been aired on social media and verbally about irregular or totally missed collections of the Trolibocs, which include compartments for recyclable items such as paper, plastics and glass. Food waste must be left in a lidded orange bin and cardboard in a large blue plastic bag.

“This situation has been repeated throughout the county and residents are being told by the council on its social media that specified areas will receive the collection due to them on certain days. But in many cases, I understand, this information has been incorrect and collections continue to be missed.”

He adds: “We are also told that county councillors have been deluged with complaints about the situation and that staff from other departments of the council have been drafted in to help under-pressure refuse operatives.

“I complained directly about mine and my neighbours' missed collections directly to the council's chief executive, Graham Boase, last week but so far have received no response.

“This has become a major problem for residents of the county and one which shows no signs of being remedied. It smacks of maladministration of the worst kind.

“I therefore thought it was time to complain to the Ombudsman on behalf of myself and the many other people affected by this situation.”

And asked on the form what he would like to see the Ombudsman do to remedy the situation he answered: “To ensure that myself and the other Denbighshire residents affected by the problem are provided with the regular and efficient waste collection system which they pay for and deserve.”

The complaint has been officially logged complete with a reference number and llanblogger will keep readers posted of its progress.

* To make a complaint to the Ombudsman, go to: https://www.ombudsman.wales/