PENSIONERS have hit out at council binmen for leaving piles of rubbish including sanitary products strewn across the pavement.

Residents at Barrhead’s St Mary’s Gardens have contacted The News and their local councillors after reaching the end of their tether.

Pictures show massed black bags, some with rubbish spilling out on to the paths and pavements, which residents say were lifted out of overflowing bins by binmen and dumped.

But the main problem is not the actions of the binmen – who are entitled to remove overflowing rubbish – but the lack of bins at the 33-home complex despite repeated requests for more.

East Renfrewshire Council says that it has now rectified the situation and defended the “standard practice” actions of its binmen, but residents remain shocked that the situation was left like this given the age of the residents.

David Mckeag, who had been visiting his 82-year-old mother at the complex when he spotted the mess, said: “The refuse collectors scraped off the top of the bin that is used to collect 33 different elderly residents homes refuse and dumped it all onto the pavement.

“I am utterly disgusted.

“Not only are various pieces of refuse lying out on the road and pavement – including women’s sanitary products and food stuff – blocking a route for the infirm and disabled old folks, but the fact that the ‘over-loaded’ bin was actually level with the bin lorry and the binman was witnessed brushing it all off the top side-ways onto the pavement rather than front-ways which would have been into the lorry and just as easy.

“I know for a fact they have asked the council on a few occasions for more ‘black’ bins but they were brought more green recycle ones instead. How can 33 homes fit three weeks of refuse into just a few bins?”

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council says the problem has now been addressed, and defended the actions of their binmen.

He said: “Our crews do not collect excess waste from any properties, so any rubbish which is left on top of bins is moved to allow us to gain access.

“However, we visited the housing complex on Friday and have agreed to supply six large additional recycling and general waste bins to meet the needs of the residents.

“Food caddies, white recycling sacks and blue boxes will also be provided to support the residents to recycle their waste more effectively. In addition, an educational talk has been arranged to give residents the opportunity to learn more about the council’s new three-weekly kerbside collection system.”