Aberdeenshire Council is facing renewed calls to revise its appointment-only system at recycling centres.
The local authority, like many others, rolled out a booking system in May 2020 in response to Covid.
But while Highland, Moray and Aberdeen councils have dropped the need to book a timeslot, Aberdeenshire Council has maintained the system.
But staff – who claim they are regularly abused by frustrated locals they have to turn away – have joined the calls from some communities to drop the system altogether.
Discouraging people from recycling
Staff members Aberdeenshire recycling centres have spoken out, telling us they believe the booking requirement is putting people off going to the tip.
Speaking anonymously, amid fears for his job, one worker said: “They have been educating the public for years on recycling and this is knocking us right back.
“We’re a recycling centre, people come to recycle their waste. We want as much recycling done as possible to reduce the impact on the environment.
“But the feedback we’re getting from the public is that this is discouraging them.
“And it’s atrocious when you’ve got more mature people, who are 80 or 90 and you’re saying ‘oh sorry I can’t let you in.'”
He said many people get frustrated and openly tell staff they will just put it in their bin at home instead or take the risk and fly-tip it.
“Personally I’ve been sworn at, spat at and threatened,” he added. “We understand the frustration of people turning up but our hands are tied.”
The job has become a “nightmare”
Many staff have said that aggressive and upsetting encounters with those using the sites has “definitely” increased and it’s having an impact on their mental health.
The staff member added: “It’s causing a lot of anxiety. Before you’re going on your shift I’m thinking ‘what’s going to happen today?'”
“You have to realise that these people who are manning the sites, a lot of them stay in the local area that they’re working in. So they’ve got friends who they’ve known for years falling out with them.”
The 53-year-old claimed a colleague has recently been signed off with stress and admitted he was “on the verge” himself.
He added staff at some centres are now letting people through without bookings to avoid abuse, but are putting their jobs at risk by doing so.
One such worker said he used to love their job before the booking system was introduced, but now it’s a “nightmare”.
The 55-year-old said: “You could help everyone, have a bit of banter with the older folk and it was a sociable thing. You got on with everyone and now it’s a different job altogether.
“We’re getting called all sorts and it’s not good for staff morale.”
Council takes abuse of staff ‘very seriously’
Aberdeenshire Council carried out a survey on the scheme last year, and has since tried to make it more user friendly after 38% of respondents said they were dissatisfied.
It insists that there are benefits, such as less queues.
A spokesman said: “Since its introduction, the household recycling centre booking system has demonstrated many benefits to users such as better traffic management and ease of access, with a public survey undertaken as part of a wider review of HRCs demonstrating that the majority of users were satisfied with the system.
“Earlier this year, councillors agreed to its continuation while seeking a number of improvements to make it even more user friendly – some of which have already been implemented, others coming in the very near future.
“We would strongly remind the public and businesses that fly-tipping is illegal and offenders will be prosecuted.
“It’s important to note that fly-tipping is not linked to the booking system at our household recycling centres and we have seen figures rise and fall for many years.
“We take incidents of violence and aggression very seriously and recycling centre staff have been instructed to report all incidents of aggressive behaviour so that these can be recorded and monitored.”
Fly-tipping on the rise
However, not all councillors are onboard with the continuation of the system and claim that fly-tipping in their area has gone up.
Councillor Mark Findlater said while the booking system has been welcome at some sites such as Inverurie, those using the one centre in Macduff want to see things change.
He said: “I want the barriers raised, the booking system stopped and the operations of the HWRCs returned to normal and so does everyone in Troup that I talk to. They have done the job during the pandemic, its time to return to normal.
“Every day I have constituents telling me exactly this. Macduff’s HWRC is running at 44% of normal capacity.
“Fly-tipping has increased dramatically in our beautiful countryside. A lot of older folk also find it difficult to book online or wait on the phone, its time to go back to normal operations.”
He was echoed by Banchory councillor Ann Ross, who described the barriers put in place by funding from Zero Waste Scotland during the pandemic as “cumbersome”.
She believes is has led to more fly-tipping, adding: “We need to see recycling rates increased and we don’t want to put impediments in people’s way.”