Anger at ‘rubbish’ policy

The 48-year-old, who lives on a corner block on Buckle Street, said there was no consideration given for properties when rubbish was collected.

During a green waste collection, contractors emptied cardboard boxes holding smaller greens into recycling, but left a trail of cardboard boxes on the verge.

Mr Di Giovanni said the cardboard boxes were not collected until the next day, after he called the City of Stirling and complained.

‘I was told the council don’t collect the cardboard boxes any more as they contaminate the green waste,’ he said. ‘Any resident who was good enough to collect cardboard boxes so they could put their green waste neatly into the boxes instead of letting the waste blow everywhere had the cardboard boxes left behind to blow in the wind.’

Mr Di Giovanni said he was told by collection contractors to put cardboard boxes in his rubbish bin.

‘I think the council have taken ratepayers for a ride for a long time now; I have had this house since 1995 and the collection/tip passes have gone down to virtually no service at all, yet the cost has increased considerably,’ he said.

‘For the green waste, I would like to see free drop-off at the transfer station and the greens be turned into mulch that can be supplied back to ratepayers to use.’

Stirling’s Waste and Fleet manager Sean Sciberras said because of a recent change in contractors, cardboard boxes could not be included within the green waste.

‘With this change, the cardboard boxes were to be picked up separately during this transition period, but unfortunately it did not happen,’ Mr Sciberras said.

‘Flyers delivered directly to households that notify residents of an upcoming verge green waste collection will now advise that small green waste will be collected using the city’s green waste bags only.’

The city provides two free green waste bags every year to ratepayers.

Cardboard boxes cannot be mingled with green waste because it contaminates mulched products during shredding.