An absence of drivers and loaders has resulted in green bin collections being suspended across Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire from 13 December until 12 January 2022.
With much of the understaffing due to self-isolation, the remaining crews will be tasked with completing the rest of the scheduled rounds of collection, whilst green bins – containing garden and food waste – are disregarded. Postponing collections should allow crews to prioritise the emptying of blue and black bins – containing recyclables and non-recyclables, respectively – throughout the festive period; a time in which a larger amount of household waste and recycling is generally generated.
The local council issued a warning over the summer to notify residents that staffing shortages caused by the pandemic could see green bin collections being disrupted further into the year. The continuing national shortage of HGV drivers is also a contributing factor to the suspensions, with a lack of agency staff, due to high demand from other sectors, causing a gap in employment.
In an attempt to ease the issue, Greater Cambridge Shared Waste has appointed 11 new bin crew members since September as part of an ongoing recruitment drive. On top of this, six existing refuse loaders are being provided with training to ensure that they are able to assume the role of driver.
In advance of the suspension, the local council is advising local residents to put their green bins out as normal if they are expecting them to be emptied this week – if still uncollected by the usual collection date, they are to remain left out as they should be emptied by 14 December at the latest.
During the suspension period, the council is advising residents to store garden waste either in the green bin, a pile in the garden, or home composting units, until normal collections resume. In cases where it is completely necessary to remove surplus waste, residents are directed to take the material to household recycling centres (HRCs) in Milton or Thriplow.
When it comes to food waste, the first port of call is for residents to reduce the amount they generate so that there is less to dispose of. With the food waste that is produced, the council is asking for it to be placed into the black bin, for this period of suspension only.
Both the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Council websites are in the process of being updated in order to reflect the suspension of green bin collections.
Head of Greater Cambridge Shared Waste, Bode Esan, commented: “I really hope that residents will continue supporting our crews and understand that the decision to suspend green bin collections is one that we have not taken lightly. We have done everything we possibly can to keep all our collection services going, by working hard to cover for absences as well as recruiting new staff.
“However, we have reached the point where we can’t do this any longer and must prioritise emptying black and blue bins. Please help out our hard-working crews by storing any remaining garden waste and leaves from this autumn and minimise food waste as much as possible over the coming weeks and the festive period in particular.”
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