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Call to privatise bin collection Call to privatise bin collection
(about 18 hours later)
Tory councillors in Edinburgh are calling on waste collections in the capital to be contracted out permanently.Tory councillors in Edinburgh are calling on waste collections in the capital to be contracted out permanently.
They will table a motion on the issue at the city's full council meeting later on Thursday. The Conservative group were tabling a motion on the issue at the city's full council meeting.
The call comes as bin workers continue with industrial action in protest at proposed changes to pay structures.The call comes as bin workers continue with industrial action in protest at proposed changes to pay structures.
Since the dispute began in July, the city council has hired a private contractor to clear city centre waste.Since the dispute began in July, the city council has hired a private contractor to clear city centre waste.
The authority has refused to publicly name the firm involved, however Shanks Waste Solutions has admitted it has been picking up rubbish from the city's streets during the festival season.The authority has refused to publicly name the firm involved, however Shanks Waste Solutions has admitted it has been picking up rubbish from the city's streets during the festival season.
Edinburgh's streets have been turned into a rubbish tip by the bins work-to-rule Iain WhyteConservative group leaderEdinburgh's streets have been turned into a rubbish tip by the bins work-to-rule Iain WhyteConservative group leader
Despite hopes of a breakthrough between the council and the Unite trade union to end the dispute last week, workers have continued with their work-to-rule amid concerns that their earnings could be cut from £18,000 to £12,000 a year.Despite hopes of a breakthrough between the council and the Unite trade union to end the dispute last week, workers have continued with their work-to-rule amid concerns that their earnings could be cut from £18,000 to £12,000 a year.
The motion, which is due to be debated at Thursday's full council meeting, calls for the immediate start to the process of tendering out the refuse collection service. The motion calls for the immediate start to the process of tendering out the refuse collection service.
It states: "Council notes the ongoing refuse collection dispute and the disruption it is causing to Edinburgh citizens and the damage it is causing to Edinburgh's reputation."It states: "Council notes the ongoing refuse collection dispute and the disruption it is causing to Edinburgh citizens and the damage it is causing to Edinburgh's reputation."
It urges council leaders to market test the refuse collection service and implement the tender process.It urges council leaders to market test the refuse collection service and implement the tender process.
Conservative group leader Iain Whyte said: "Edinburgh's streets have been turned into a rubbish tip by the bins work-to-rule.Conservative group leader Iain Whyte said: "Edinburgh's streets have been turned into a rubbish tip by the bins work-to-rule.
"The priority is to sort out the mess. But we also need a longer-term solution which puts residents first, ensures the bins are emptied and provides better value for money."The priority is to sort out the mess. But we also need a longer-term solution which puts residents first, ensures the bins are emptied and provides better value for money.
"Already much of the capital's recycling is dealt with by an outside body - why can't our refuse collection be taken out of council hands as well?""Already much of the capital's recycling is dealt with by an outside body - why can't our refuse collection be taken out of council hands as well?"