Cash-strapped Angus Council bosses have paid out over £20,000 in the past two years replacing damaged or stolen wheelie bins.
The figures released following a freedom of information request by The Courier show the majority are being damaged when being emptied, while wheelie bin thefts are also on the increase.
Arbroath councillor Bob Spink said thefts of bins were “disgraceful” and the cost incurred was “a price of vandalism.”
The Taxpayers’ Alliance said the figures would be a concern for hard-pressed taxpayers having to cope with the current harsh economic climate.
“It’s worrying that the cost of replacing damaged bins has increased and in some areas it’s due to more bins being damaged by operations,” a spokeswoman said.
“Councils should be trying to reduce avoidable costs like this it’s an easy way to save money.
“Sadly, the damage caused by fire and vandalism is harder to prevent but taxpayers will be concerned to see that it is costing so much.”
The Courier can reveal that 779 bins were reported damaged or stolen last year, up from 662 the previous year.
The largest number of thefts took place in Montrose (105) and Arbroath (97), while Forfar recorded the most incidents of damage with 240 reports in two years, and 27 bins were set on fire across Angus.
In 2008/09, Angus Council replaced 476 bins that were damaged or stolen, with the average cost price of a bin approximately £19, which added up to a bill of some £9044.
In 2009/10, 570 bins were replaced at an average cost of £20.50, which was £11,685 from the public purse.
“Nothing much can be done about damage during use because of the way the vehicles empty them,” said Mr Spink.
“Inevitably there will be damage but the wilful damage like setting fires or theft can be added to the list of vandalism that we have to put up with.Disgraceful”Almost everything we do these days we have to cost into it a vandalism factor and that’s disgraceful.
“I quite agree with the sentiment that it’s something that shouldn’t happen, but if something’s left unattended and in an obvious place, then in this day and age you can almost be sure that something can be vandalised.
“It’s the price of vandalism of all kinds, whether it’s wheelie bins or park benches.”
Mr Spink continued, “This comes up time and time again-the council spends as much time fixing up playparks, replacing missing wheelie bins, vandalism to park benches, pulling out hedges… just destruction, because of wanton vandalism.
“It’s a cost that we and every other local authority now has to look at.
“It’s systematic of society. I would only encourage anyone who sees this happen to report it.
“Somebody damaging a wheelie bin may not seem like a lot but it is a cost to the council and it all adds up.
“Vandalism is a state of mind and it shouldn’t happen,” he added.
A spokesperson for Angus Council said, “It has cost Angus Council £20,000 in the last two years to replace wheelie bins which have been lost, stolen or damaged.
“Previously, we had varying rules covering charging of householders for replacement bins, but now we only charge if there has been negligence, for example, damaging the bin by putting a hot barbecue tray into it.
“We will be pleased to hear from members of the public if they find any abandoned bins which we can recover.”
Rab Middlemiss, group manager with Tayside Fire and Rescue, said, “When things like wheelie bins are set on fire in the open, at best it diverts the fire service’s resources, which means there could be a delayed response to real emergencies, putting lives at risk.
“We would urge people to be vigilant and report such criminal and potentially life-threatening acts.”