Bin nightmare (From Penarth Times)

Bin nightmare

PENARTH residents, living next to dirty and overflowing rubbish bins, are hitting out at the health hazard.

Locals say they are 'fed up' with the mess that surrounds the recycling cans, which are situated right outside their flats in Bridgeman Court.

They claim they have had to suffer the continued sight of the four over-spilling bins, since the containers were moved to a corner spot on Bridgeman Road - a site only a short distance away from the town's busy promenade and beach.

Resident, Ron Ward, said: "The bins get full, the rubbish falls out, kids pick it up and then we end up with smashed bottles in the park.

He also claims that Ecovert, who are responsible for all of the recycling banks, could not say how often the bins were emptied. But he insists they are often stuffed with rubbish.

Mr Ward explained that passers-by end up having to leave carrier bags filled with glass bottles beside the containers, as they are often overflowing.

His neighbour, Trevor Brace, said that the recycling bins were 'very useful', but admitted they were 'unsightly', and that some people misused them.

Mr Ward claims residents phoned the contractors several times before they cleared the area. Mr Ward went on: "By the end of the weekend, there will be bags of bottles; it is always worse at the weekend."

The residents want the contractors to come out on a regular basis to empty the bins, and clear up any additional mess. There are three glass units, one for clear glass, another for brown glass and the other for green glass, as well as the paper bank."

A spokesperson for Ecovert said the units were emptied on a regular basis, and an employee visits at least a couple of times a week to check the bins. The driver often finds it difficult to pull up near the recycling bins to empty them, due to residents parking cars directly in front of the area. He urged local people not to block the access with their vehicles.