THE company in charge of South Gloucestershire’s bin collections is being fined by the council for its “appalling” service.
The council recently signed a new deal with Suez to continue kerbside rounds after a previous 25-years contract expired.
But a move to three-weekly black bin collections in May, new collection routes and three heatwaves have led to thousands of homes being missed off rounds, with bins, recycling and nappies left out on pavements.
Council leaders say they have had enough, and are fining Suez for breach of contract. The authority said it cannot disclose how big the fine is because it is “commercially sensitive”.
Opposition Conservatives say the authority has introduced a “failing policy that cannot cope”.
The council’s ruling Lib Dem/Labour coalition says there have been “significant issues” with waste and recycling collections, and the authority is being inundated with complaints.
Cabinet member for infrastructure Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North) said: “The council took out a new waste contract with Suez in good faith but the level of service that we have received from the company has been appalling.
“Residents expect their bins to be collected on time and to be able to communicate with the company when there is an issue – for many people this has not happened.
“Councillors and residents alike all feel we have been let down.”
Tory group leader Liz Brennan (Frenchay & Downend) said: “Residents have been left dealing with chaos.
“It is simply not good enough that families are left with hygiene waste and rotting rubbish piling up outside their homes, particularly in hot weather.”
Suez UK municipal general manager Nick Browning said: “The introduction of new services has coincided with several periods of extremely high temperatures, which affects how long and how quickly our crews are able to work.
“This, coupled with a shortage of drivers and older trucks breaking down, has disrupted recycling collections in some areas.
“I’d like to apologise to all those affected by the disruption and reassure residents that we are working hard with council officers to recover the missed collections – our crews are working overtime where practical and we have brought in trucks from other areas to provide support.”
A council spokesperson said: “Waste collection is physically demanding outdoor work, involving long periods in direct sunlight and repetitive manual handling. During periods of extreme heat, collection crews have to adapt working arrangements to protect their safety and well-being.
“In some cases, collection rounds have had to end early to protect crews from the hottest conditions.”
The spokesperson said priority was given to black bin and hygiene and nappy waste collections during the heatwaves, which resulted in some recycling collections being delayed or missed, and the arrival of several heatwaves in quick succession made it more difficult to get back on schedule.
Since three-weekly black bin collections started in May fewer vehicles are used for black bin collections, while extra resources have gone into recycling collections, while the new hygiene and nappy waste service has four dedicated collection vehicles.
The council’s recycling vehicle fleet is due to be replaced next year.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service