Wheelie bin lid locks could help tackle West Lothian litter problem
West Lothian could introduce straps for wheelie bin lids in a bid to control the scourge of windblown litter in communities and the countryside.
Litter has been much more visible after a winter of violent storms including Eowyn in January upended bins across towns and villages.
It prompted groups including West Lothian Litter Pickers to advocate the use of bin straps as a simple, low cost way to help cut the amount of household rubbish clogging streets and hedges.
A meeting of the full council this week backed a motion from Linlithgow SNP councillor Pauline Orr to look at the feasibility of securing bins.
Councillor Orr raised the motion in response to concerns from the Litter Pickers, who give up their own time to help keep local streets, parks and countryside clean and safe.
The group highlighted how unsecured bins - particularly blue and green bins filled with lightweight waste - are contributing to litter being blown across communities and into the natural environment.
A spokesperson for the West Lothian Litter Pickers said the group was ' delighted' at the decision and had provided prototypes to the council.
Labour's Tom Conn, who chairs the Environment and Sustainability PDSP had initially proposed an amendment which pointed out the potential costs if the council were to supply bins straps to all householders.
The amendment highlighted: 'Recycling and Waste Services collect 157,164 blue and green bins for paper/card and plastics. A typical bin strap may vary in cost from between £4.59 to £7.99.
'If introducing bin clips/straps, the council would need to offer them to all residents. Based on these numbers, this would incur a capital cost of between £720,000 to £1.256 million, for which there is no budget provision.'
Councillor Orr said it would be for households to buy them rather than have free of charge, but added the council could make them available through libraries and other council buildings for householders to buy. She also suggested that a standardised model could make use easier for bin crews.
Her motion stressed that crews would not be required to re-fasten straps. It also called for the council to work with partners such as the Litter Pickers to agree a suitable strap type and consider options for residents to purchase, and for council to supply straps for resale to residents. Labour supported further investigation into bin straps as a way of controlling windblown litter.
Councillor Orr said: 'I'm delighted that my motion on tackling litter through the use of bin straps was agreed at full council.
'This is a practical measure that could make a real difference - and I was proud to bring this forward on behalf of the Litter Pickers, who do outstanding voluntary work across our communities.
'I look forward to the report coming to the Environment PDSP in September and hope it will lead to action that protects our neighbourhoods, countryside, wildlife and livestock.'
A spokesperson for the Litter Pickers told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'West Lothian Litter Pickers are delighted that the recent motion regarding bin clips has been passed, thanks to Councillor Pauline Orr taking this forward.
'WLLP has been campaigning for a while now to get WLC to agree to a trial of bin clips, funded by WLLP members. During high winds and weather warnings, a significant amount of litter is blown around the county due to the poor design of the bins.
"The bins hold lightweight recyclable materials which are not fit for purpose in strong winds. WLC and the public are responsible for looking after and protecting the environment. WLLP is a huge community group of 4,000 members.
'We have a fantastic partnership with WLC, but due to budget and service cuts, it is predominantly WLLP members who go out litter picking after high winds. Other councils, such as Orkney and Fife, use bin clips.
'Two valued members of WLLP, Keith Baylis and Jacques Le Roux, have designed prototypes which have been presented to WLC. Some of the designs are even self-opening, which would not add precious time onto the bin collection routes.'
Other local authorities, including Orkney, Highlands and Perth and Kinross Councils, are already using bin straps to limit the amount of litter escaping from bins.
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