The number of households which were tagged has also been outlined through an FOI request
Belfast City Council introduced new rules relating to bin collections this summer, with the roll out already having an impact on households.
A new bin tagging system has been rolled out city-wide to “encourage households to put items in the right bins to stop containers from overflowing” and to “make it safer for operatives to empty bins into lorries on collection day”. And a recent Freedom of Information request from Belfast Live shows the costs of those tags so far to be over £11,000.
From Monday August 4, if a bin doesn’t close fully, or bins are lined with plastic liners which can snag on the lorry’s lifting mechanism, they will receive an amber tag as a first warning – up until this date, the council spent ” £11,600 on tags related to the project”.
In the first week of the new system, August 4-8, Belfast Live also can reveal that around 1,700 tags were attached to bins which were overfilled or lined.
The council says the tag will explain “what the owner should do next time around to make extra room in their bin and leave it out for collection correctly”.
“Bins which continue to be presented as overflowing or which use a liner will eventually receive a red tag, and red tagged bins will not be emptied,” they added.
“Red tags will begin from 29 September 2025, giving residents plenty of time to get used to the updated guidance.”
Speaking before the introduction of new measures, Councillor Ruth Brooks, Chair of the council’s People and Communities Committee said the change was about helping Belfast residents recycle more and get on top of their household waste, while keeping council staff safe at work.
“Many other councils already follow these guidelines and, while our crews have always done their best to support households on collection day, we need to take a consistent approach to how bins are presented and emptied city-wide,” councillor Brooks added.
“This will reduce the risk of accidents at work and also reflect upcoming changes to how our lorries operate in terms of emptying bins which are overflowing or have liners attached. By following these guidelines, households can support a cleaner environment and help our crews deliver what is a very vital but underrated service – one which we all rely on, in every corner of our city.”
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
#Belfast #City #Council #spend #bin #tags #revealed
