The leader of West Dunbartonshire Council says discussions with “specific staff groups” from Greenlight Environmental are taking place to take them into temporary council employment.

More than 100 workers lost their jobs last month after the recycling company collapsed into administration.

Recycling centres at Dalmoak, Renton, and Erskine Ferry Road, Old Kilpatrick, reopened at the weekend. Recycling collections within high rise flats and tenements, which were delivered by Greenlight on behalf of the council, will be reintroduced this week, with 19 staff members previously employed by Greenlight delivering the service on a temporary basis.

The Care of Gardens Scheme is also set to resume this week, with recruitment having begun.

But as union representatives continue to push for the council to “do the right thing” and bring the entire operation under full council ownership, Councillor Jonathan McColl says the long-term future of the service “must be considered carefully”.

He said: “West Dunbartonshire Council continues to do everything possible to maintain vital frontline services to our residents.

“Discussions are taking place with specific staff groups to bring them into council employment on a temporary basis.

“It has become apparent that the equipment and processes being used by Greenlight for processing recycling were out of date and inefficient, and the decision on the long term future of service delivery is one that will need to be considered carefully.”

GMB Scotland organiser Hazel Nolan welcomed West Dunbartonshire’s “positive moves” to re-engage some staff, but claimed full council ownership was the only way forward.

“The council needs to look at the Greenlight staff as a ready-made workforce for the continued delivery of the important public services that residents in West Dunbartonshire have come to expect,” she added.

“In the meantime, we will ensure the statutory rights of our members are protected but ultimately we are fighting tooth and nail for both councils to do the right thing.”

Cllr McColl said a report on future options would be brought to councillors in the coming weeks.