Rats infest Glasgow tenements as bin collections are missed

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 15:02 · Archive

A Shettleston resident says rats have infested his tenement garden after weeks of missed bin collections by Glasgow City Council.

Christopher Duke, a resident of Shettleston in Glasgow's East End, says rats have infested his tenement garden after weeks of missed bin collections. He claims council bin crews have left weeks between collections, failed to remove all rubbish, and on some occasions arrived without emptying any bags. The rubbish has piled up in the back court, leaving residents living in what Duke describes as 'filth'. This is not the first time residents have faced rat problems linked to missed collections, with pest control previously called to the block.

Duke says he has contacted the council several times but has yet to see any improvement, and recently lodged another complaint. When he phoned to complain a few days ago, he was told the matter had been logged and would be sorted, but nothing has been done. He expressed concern about the potential for more vermin or foxes to come to the area if the bins are not uplifted, given that there are children, pets and families in the tenement block.

The Herald reports that Glasgow City Council received more than 10,000 pest control reports from January to August this year, equivalent to around 42 every day. The same period saw 30,918 reports of missed bin collections, or about 719 daily. Residents and union representatives have attributed the crisis to delayed or missed bin collections, three-week waste cycles and budget or staffing pressures. Glasgow City Council states that its pest control team actively treats reported infestations, though officials emphasise that proper containment of food waste and resident and landlord cooperation are essential to long-term control.

How it is being reported

• The most rat infested areas of Glasgow revealedA freedom of information request by The Herald has revealed Glasgow's most rat infested areas.The Herald · 13 Oct, 12:50
• Residents' fury as rats infest Glasgow tenement following missed bin liftsA Shettleston resident has been left furious at Glasgow City Council as missed bin collections have brought rats to the area.Glasgow Times · 12 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Christopher Duke · Glasgow City Council · Shettleston · The Herald

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