Aberdeen residents are being warned to expect problems with gulls, rats and flies this week when bin strikes begin across the city tomorrow.
Pest control experts say that bins will quickly fill up and cause problems as bin crews stop collecting rubbish.
There is around three weeks’ worth of strikes planned.
These start tomorrow with Union Unite calling on members to strike from August 24 to September 1, and GMB members expected to walk out from August 26 to 29 and September 7 to 10.
Fears that bin strikes in Aberdeen could cause flytipping and infestations
With 36 years in pest control under his belt, Aberkill owner Peter Stewart has a good idea of what to expect in the coming days.
“Rubbish builds up incredibly quickly and becomes a problem right away,” he said.
“I am old enough to remember the major bin worker strikes in the 1970s and 80s and it was bad.”
He explains that at that time, residents all used plastic bin bags to leave their rubbish out.
“The stench was something else, and the gulls and vermin ripped into the bags,” he said.
“The good news is that we all have proper plastic bins now, but these will not be big enough for everyone and people will start leaving rubbish beside their bins or in their gardens.
“That’s when you start to see problems, mice and rats will be there for your rubbish but then may spot a hole to get into your house and the next thing you know they will be eating your cornflakes.
“This is the most common way people end up with infestations.”
Things got so bad in the 70s and 80s that Peter says residents in Aberdeen started flytipping in nearby woods and green spaces, just to get the rubbish away from their front door.
He says this may well happen again if the strikes go on for any length of time.
“And the flies – there will be a lot of them particularly if the weather is warm.”
‘It’s going to stink’
Aberdeen is well known for its resourceful seagull population, and the birds won’t miss an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
“I can foresee problems with gulls very quickly,” said Owen Mailer, owner of EPC Pest Control Aberdeen.
“There were some bin strikes about 10 years ago in the city and the seagulls tore into all the rubbish left lying around.
“It was a complete mess and what the birds didn’t eat just got blown everywhere in the wind.
“Rats typically take a little while longer to move in, but the birds are instant.”
Owen said that he will be watching with interest to see what happens in the city when collections stop tomorrow.
“It’s going to stink,” he said.
Another issue on his mind is the backlog this will cause in the regular bin collection services.
“When the collections do start again, they aren’t going to be able to collect everything on the first day, or even the second or third day because there is a schedule to follow and they will need to get round the whole city,” he said.
“So it may be the case that people are waiting a long, long time for their bin to be picked up even when the schedules resume.
“There’s no doubt in my mind it will be a health hazard.”
What can residents do about it?
Aberdeen City Council has advised households minimise their waste as much as possible during the strikes so bins don’t fill up so fast and to maximise space in recycling bins by crushing down cardboard and bottles.
Any jobs that produce waste, like cutting the grass or trimming a hedge, should be put off until bin collections return to normal, if possible.
If your bin is already full, there is not much you can do.
The council has suggested that residents store any waste as safely as they can until bin collections return to normal.
If you cannot wait to get rid of your rubbish, you can go to your local household waste or recycling centre.
These are likely to be busier than usual during the strikes and rubbish should not be piled up beside bins if they are full.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “We have published information and frequently asked questions on our website, regarding the industrial action.
“Services will continue to assess potential health and safety issues and takes steps to mitigate against these.
“‘Life and Limb’ activities, which aim to reduce fire or other safety issues resulting from a build-up of waste, will be prioritised throughout.”
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