As the snowy conditions and Storm Emma continue to sweep across the majority of the UK, a number of local authorities have seen waste collection services suspended due to difficult conditions.
In particular, household collections taking place on narrow residential roads, especially in rural areas which often are the last to be gritted have been among those most heavily affected.
Some operators have cited health and safety concerns as leading to a reduction in services
A spokesperson on behalf of SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, which operates a number of local authority contracts across the UK said: “Unfortunately, due to the continued adverse weather conditions, we have had to suspend many of our public and private sector collection services because it is simply not safe to send our crews out. The safety of both our staff and the wider public is our number one priority”.
Durham county council told residents to put bins away until the next collection
The spokesperson added that where services have been suspended, the company is working on recovery plans to, ”catch-up with the inevitable back log of collections”, as soon as the roads become sufficiently clear.
In some of the worst affected areas, including much of Scotland and the north of England, services have been suspended. Veolia this morning issued warnings across Sheffield to encourage residents to leave out their bins, and its crews are working hard to make collections where safe to do so.
Councils
Many councils have issued warnings to residents that waste may not be collected, but collections will take place where safe to do so. Others, including Durham where police have issued warnings that conditions are still hazardous, have said they will empty the bins during the next collection round and have not got interim plans.
The county has closed all of its household waste recycling centres have been closed until further notice as well across many councils, including Dorset and others across the country.
Birmingham council, as well as others, have warned residents not to put their residual waste bins out until the next collection. Nearby Sandwell council tweeted: “General waste, recycling and food waste will be collected where possible today (Friday 2 March) but there will be no garden waste collections.”
However, where conditions allowed, some crews have braved the snow and have been collecting household waste.
In Rotherham, the collection service was praised by many on social media for continuing to operate despite the conditions.
The below picture was taken in Harthill, Rotherham.
Some services were praised on Twitter. Credit: @Poshoneposh
In light of the conditions, a spokesperson for the Health and safety Executive said that the organisation has not issued any additional guidance for councils or waste management companies conducting collections in the potentially hazardous conditions.
However previously, it has outlined snow and ice as a major reason for incidents while collections take place.
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Source: letsrecycle.com General
