The majority of Fife’s binmen are in favour of returning to a single shift pattern in the drive to improve collections.
More than 50,000 bin collections were missed or delayed in the first half of last year as the service was crippled by staff sickness and vehicle breakdowns.
But managers say the new shift arrangements will save enough money to pay for 13 new bin lorries.
And it will improve the work/life balance for staff, leading to fewer absences.
Fife Council moved to a twin shift system 10 years ago to save money.
It means bins can be emptied any time between 6am and 9pm.
However, it is no longer considered fit for purpose due to rising sickness levels, an increase in new housing estates and extra travelling.
And it’s costing more than £300,000 a year to return to missed bins.
The new shift would be from 7am to 4.30pm, with staff moving to a four-day working week.
6am bin collections are ‘too early for residents’
Ken Gourlay, the council’s executive director for enterprise and environment, said: “Recurring delayed collections are frustrating residents and causing reputational damage to the council.
“Without some form of intervention and change, a level of service failure will continue into the foreseeable future.”
The council found most missed bins were due to residents not presenting them at the kerb in time.
Mr Gourlay said a 6am start was too early for people who forgot to put their bins out the previous night.
He said the new arrangement would address that and also stop noise and disruption when people are sleeping.
When will new Fife single shift system begin?
Mr Gourlay added: “Current performance has stabilised but spikes in absence still leave the service vulnerable.
“Delays are inevitable if the twin shift continues.”
He said two productive hours were lost every day during shift changes.
“The trade union engagement with the workforce on the four-day rotational working week was positive and the majority of staff were supportive of the change,” he added.
Fife Council will need 13 new bin lorries but the money saved through the new working arrangement will repay the outlay within seven years.
However, the bins can’t be ordered until a formal agreement is reached with trade unions.
And it takes 15 months to manufacture and deliver a bin lorry.
This means it could be October next year before the new system begins.
Councillors will be asked to agree the new arrangement when the cabinet committee meets on Thursday.
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