Bin collectors: PSD is squeezing us out

RUBBISH contractors believe they are being forced out of business by Public Services' proposals to centralise bin collections.

The four small firms, most of which have been passed from father to son, handle all the island's rubbish collections, except St Peter Port, with their 12 employees and 16 rubbish carts. They came together to tell PSD that it should focus on cutting rubbish, rather than interfering with private bin men's jobs.

And one of the group warned that they had not ruled out seeking compensation if the department followed through on its idea to centralise black bag collections when kerbside recycling is brought in.

'There is no question that we being squeezed out,' said Colin Blondel, who handles Vale and St Andrew's.

'I just can't see a new contractor being as reliable.'