Fermanagh residents have aired their frustration after their brown bins were not collected in certain areas this week – an issue that appears to be ongoing due to Council staff shortages.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter this week, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council confirmed that it is “progressing several recruitment processes” for its services, including Waste, after numerous brown bins were not collected on Monday, March 27.

‘Challenges’

A Council spokesperson said: “Many employers regionally and across the district recognise the challenges of workforce recruitment and [the Council] manages staff vacancies and attendance in line with agreed policies and procedures.

“Council officers are progressing several recruitment processes for permanent, casual and seasonal staff across a range of Council service areas, including Waste. These processes are expected to provide additional staff availability during April.”

Following a complaint from an Enniskillen resident regarding the failure of the Council to collect their “very full” brown bin on Monday, claiming that no prior notice was given, The Impartial Reporter asked the Council how affected people are told or warned that their bins won’t be emptied.

‘Social media post’

The spokesperson said: “A social media post is shared on the Council’s Facebook and Twitter channels to advise residents of areas where bins/caddies have not been collected, and to advise them when they will be collected, and that additional waste can be taken to a recycling centre.”

Responding to this newspaper’s query of when will the missed brown bins now be collected and what are residents with full brown bins expected to do, the spokesperson said: “These bins will be collected on the next scheduled collection date for that bin – Monday, April 10.

“Residents can take additional waste to one of the Council’s 15 household recycling centres; the closest recycling centre for Enniskillen residents is likely to be Drummee.

“Alternatively, home composting bins are available from the Council.”

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