Food waste rounds suspended amid bin backlog

FOOD waste collections have been suspended in the Derbyshire Dales to help free up waste teams as they continue to work through the bin backlog.

Derbyshire Dales District Council is urging residents to put their food waste in with their household waste, in the black wheelie bins, while contractors battle with a driver shortage and the issues it has been causing.

The authority is also asking households who have a sack collection, instead of a wheelie bin collection, to put out the usual food caddy alongside the sacks, to prevent animals tearing open the bags.

Collection rounds are being undertaken on a daily basis, but some rounds will not be completed due to the sheer volume of waste, which the council says is filling trucks more quickly than is the case in normal circumstances as crews clear the backlog.

Meanwhile in Amber Valley, residents are being urged not to fill public bins with household waste, which council bosses say is becoming an increasing issue.

A spokesman for the authority said: “We are experiencing a lot of litter bins in Amber Valley being filled with household waste.

“We are appealing to the public to stop doing this as clearing this rubbish is taking up valuable resources that are needed elsewhere.

“Your refuse and recycling bins are still being emptied and not disposing of your waste in the correct manner is an offence.”

Amber Valley Borough Council has become the latest local authority to suspend garden waste collections due to the staffing shortages.

Collections are not currently being made in Derby City and Erewash while Derbyshire Dales is expected to follow suit pending a meeting that was due to take place last night.