SICKNESS, a shortage of drivers and staff turnover are behind several weeks of delayed recycling collections in Somerset – and they could last weeks.
Parts of the county have seen kerbside pick-ups delayed by around 24 hours in recent weeks, with areas including Wells, Taunton, Glastonbury and Cheddar affected.
Now, Matt Canning, contract director for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, has explained the reasons for the issues – and warned they could continue for several weeks.
“There are delays to recycling collections due to a temporary shortage of drivers caused by a combination of sickness, staff turnover and the need to maintain our high standards of health and safety,” he said.
“I’d like to apologise to the affected households for the inconvenience – our crews are working hard to catch up and we are employing agency cover drivers while we actively recruit new permanent staff.
“We will be carrying out inductions of drivers and loaders this week, so expect to return to the regular schedule by Monday, October 20.”
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Crews are catching up with collections each day, including Saturdays, with people urged to report pick-ups missed by more than a day.
“In the meantime, if our crews haven’t collected your recycling on the usual scheduled day, there is no need to report this as it will be automatically flagged on our system – please leave your recycling containers out and our crews will return the following day,” Matt added.
“If it has been more than 24 hours since your collection was due, please report a missed collection on the council’s website.”
Areas in Somerset which could be affected by the delays to recycling collections on Friday (October 3) include:
Alford
Babcary
Bodden
Castle Cary
Charlton Adam
Charlton Mackrell
Croscombe
Ditcheat
Doulting
Downside
East Compton
East Pennard
Lovington
North Wooton
North Barrow
Parbrook
parts of north Taunton
Pilton
Pylle
Shepton Mallet
West Lydford
Wraxhall
Yeovil
Mudford
Report long-delayed collections via somerset.gov.uk/missed-collection.
Dont blame staff sickness and turnover.
Its poor management not buying the correct equipment for the staff. I was a driver there and back in kier days.
I told you then the lorries are to small. Plus 3 hrs time wasted tipping twice a day. Even the the design of the yard is wrong. Drivers held up while biffa collect the full skips. Such a poor service all because the managers cant look at them selves just L!!! A!!!.
Guess its back handers only the rich profit.
Shame on you ah.
Try getting out there yourself in the spare lorries no drivers. To afraid to get wet or run over are you.
Diarrhea of the mouth the managers and the council.
Spot checks on crews who work with poor management given free cars to use. At our expense I must ad.
Suez pay below the average for waste collection drivers this could be why maybe pass more money on to your workers and not in the bosses pockets
Excuses, excuses, anyone with a brain will connect the fact the service started failing since the new round changes performed by Suez. It’s merely coincidental that North Somerset has the exact same problems and again it’s since the new round changes. So watch the excuses keep flowing for the foreseeable future.