Bin collections gradually getting back to normal

BIN collections in the Derbyshire Dales are gradually starting to return to normal, following a tumultuous few months.

Derbyshire Dales District Council has been following up on countless reports of missed bin rounds in the Ashbourne area, after its contractor Serco was hit by driver shortages, staff absences, and then industrial action.

It meant some households did not see their bins picked up for more than six weeks – but catch-up rounds have slowly been working on gathering up the back-log.

The problems have hit recycling and garden waste rounds, with grey general waste bins - which currently contain food waste - given a priority, and although most homes have finally had their recycling collected, the council says some scheduled collections are still being missed.

This is said to be mainly due to truck capacity issues as staff work on gathering in all the excess waste generated during the mixed weeks.

The compaction trucks are filling up before rounds are completed.

Crews are returning to complete missed rounds, the council has said, but earlier this week households in Mercaston, Kirk Ireton, Brailsford and Ednaston were among those to see their bins left behind.

Catch-up crews were out again yesterday focusing on any remaining missed bins from last week and ensuring the day’s scheduled rounds were completed.

According to the latest messages from Derbyshire Dales District Council, due to new staff familiarising themselves with rounds, it is possible some of last week’s bins may have been inadvertently missed.

To report missed collections, visit www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/missedcollection within two working days.