Thousands of people in Bristol found their recycling had not been collected on schedule this week, as staff shortages at the city’s waste service company worsened. People living in a total of 144 streets did not have their recycling picked up on Monday, October 10, and that backlog has increased today (Tuesday) with another 187 streets listed as having collections missed.
And the over-stretched Bristol Waste teams also didn’t manage to get around eight streets on Monday for the fortnightly refuse collections, and another 15 streets were missed today, Tuesday.
Bristol Waste advised people living in all the streets affected on Monday to leave the recycling or wheelie bins out for today, Tuesday, and it should have been picked up during the day - and if it’s not, they should report the missed collection on the Bristol City Council website before 5pm tomorrow, Wednesday. Tonight, after an even worse day for missed collections, Bristol Waste again advised people to leave their bins out for another day.
Read more: Marcus Stewart's cousin to dress as a carrot to raise money for Motor Neurone appeal
But having so many missed collections at the start of the week is certain to have a knock-on effect for collections in other areas for the rest of the week, with depleted crews trying to play catch-up for the days ahead.
That certainly appears to be happening, with the crews sent back to Monday’s missed collections, then missing the rounds they were supposed to do on Tuesday.
The 144 streets who didn’t see their refuse collections on Monday were across the city, but mainly in the inner-city, east and north of Bristol. The streets affected stretched from The Dings and St Phillips, across Easton, Whitehall, Redfield and St George to St Pauls, Montpelier, Bishopston, Horfield and Lockleaze. Other roads in St Werburghs and Staple Hill were also affected. The eight streets that had their refuse collections missed were mainly in Redfield and Speedwell.
Today, Tuesday, the streets which had missed collections for recycling were right across the city again, from Stockwood, Brislington, Broomhill and Hengrove to Totterdown and Bedminster in South Bristol, and Barton Hill, Lawrence Hill and Redfield north of the river.
A spokesperson for Bristol Waste said: “If your bins or boxes weren't collected today, please check our missed collections list to see which streets we will be returning to tomorrow. If your street was missed but isn't listed, please report it by 5pm tomorrow," they added.
A spokesperson for Bristol Waste said: “Like others in the waste industry, we’re currently experiencing staff shortages. Unfortunately this has been compounded by higher than average sickness levels and means we haven’t been able to get to every home on their scheduled collection date.
"We are keeping Bristol City Council up to date on the situation, and our crews are working really hard to catch back up. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience as we do so. If your road has not been collected, please leave your bins and boxes out and we will return as soon as possible.” She added: “If you’re interested in working for Bristol Waste you can see our full list of vacancies and staff benefits at www.bristolwastecompany.co.uk/vacancies”.
Read next:
The Bristol mum taking on adventures as her sight deteriorates
How Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter will change South Bristol in years to come
Care home village site could be turned into hundreds of flats
Case against Bristol cyclist prosecuted for filming driver on phone is dropped
Brislington Meadows: Government will ask itself if it can build homes there
To keep up-to-date with the latest South Bristol news, join our community of subscribers with my South Bristol newsletter here.
