Staff shortages continue to hit bins collection
ONGOING ISSUES MEAN GARDEN WASTE MAY NOT BE REMOVED
A SHORTAGE of staff is being blamed for bins not being collected in one county district.
Residents of Hinckley and Bosworth have been warned that their garden waste collections may not be collected as the service continues to be hit by HGV staff shortages.
The issue has been going on for the past month, and people living in Burbage, Hinckley, Groby and Ratby have been warned they may not receive the brown bin collection next week and on bank holiday Monday, August 30, due to ongoing HGV driver shortages.
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has said that it only has enough HGV drivers to complete around 75 per cent of the rounds in Burbage on August 25, in Hinckley on August 26 and 27, and in Groby and Ratby in August 30, which will inevitably result in some garden waste collections being missed.
Any garden waste not collected next week will not be taken until the next scheduled collection days, two weeks later.
Matthew Bowers, director for
Environment and Planning at the borough council, said: “We apologise to all those customers affected, and assure anyone affected their subscription will be extended to cover this disruption.
“Unfortunately, due to the ongoing shortage of HGV drivers and driver/crew sickness we just don’t have sufficient staff to complete all the rounds next week or on bank holiday Monday.
“Once again we thank you for your patience at this difficult time.”
Residents across the borough are being told to leave their bins out as usual and the available crews will endeavour to empty as many as possible.
All other refuse and recycling collections in the borough will be completed as usual.
Last month, garden waste collections had to be completely suspended for two weeks across the borough due to shortages caused by the Covid app “pingdemic”, and not all collections were completed last week in Earl Shilton, Groby and Ratby.
The council reminded residents that the county’s tips are now open and it is no longer necessary to make an appointment to attend.
There are some vacancies for drivers and crew, which can be found on the borough council website: