Incidents of aggressive behaviour against binmen and other Bristol Waste staff have more than tripled in a year.
The problem is so serious that workers at the city’s tips have been given body cameras, while video cameras are now fitted to all company vehicles. There were 68 reported incidents against employees of the city council-owned firm in the 12 months up to October 2021, compared with just 20 the previous year – a 340 per cent increase.
It mirrors a nationwide rise in aggression against people working in the waste industry during the pandemic, partially fuelled by frustrations over the requirement to close or restrict access to recycling centres and the cancellation of some kerbside collections because of a driver shortage and Covid-19. The issue came to light while scrutiny councillors were quizzing managing director Tony Lawless about Bristol’s Waste annual business plan.
