Latest news with #bin collections
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Council raises tax, then slashes bin collections
A local authority that raised council tax by the maximum amount this year has cut bin collections to once every three weeks. Liberal Democrat-controlled West Berkshire Council announced on Monday that from September, black bins would be collected on a three-week basis, rather than fortnightly. Under the new regime, food waste will be collected weekly, recycling fortnightly, but black bins will be emptied just once every three weeks. It comes after the council, which raised tax by almost 5pc in April, admitted it was facing a £37m shortfall in its provision of special educational needs and disabilities, which could push its overall deficit higher. The authority faced a starting £12.1m shortfall for the current 2025-2026 tax year, on top of other overspending. West Berkshire Council has increased tax bills by the maximum 4.99pc – including a 2pc charge for adult social care – every year since 2023. The tax bill for a Band D property is more than £2,300 a year. Stuart Gourley, the council's executive member for environment and highways, acknowledged the changes could feel 'disruptive' to residents. He said: 'We understand that changes to waste collection can be challenging and feel disruptive, but we want to reassure residents that this decision has been made with significant thought, care, and a long-term vision for our community.. 'This change is necessary to ensure a more sustainable future for West Berkshire. By recycling more and reducing black bin waste, we can protect services, help the environment, and move towards our goal of recycling 60pc of household waste by 2030.' Those with large families or medical needs can apply for their bins to be collected more frequently, officials said. 'Challenging conditions' It comes after a council in Surrey cancelled bin collections during a recent heatwave, claiming the weather had led to 'unprecedented absences' amongst staff. In an email to households, Reigate and Banstead council said it was dealing with 'very challenging working conditions' as a result of the hot weather, meaning that some residents may have missed out on a garden waste collection recently. Colchester council in Essex, also suspended collections of paper, plastic, cans and glass earlier this month to spare workers from lifting heavy loads in scorching temperatures.
Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Council cancels bin collections after heatwave triggers staff absences
A council in Surrey cancelled bin collections for residents after the heatwave led to 'unprecedented absences' among staff. In an email to households, Reigate and Banstead council said it was dealing with 'very challenging working conditions' as a result of the hot weather, meaning that some residents may have missed out on a garden waste collection recently. Earlier this month, the council wrote to residents who pay extra for a green bin collection to inform them of the cancellation. The email sent on Monday said: 'This week our waste and recycling team is experiencing unprecedented absence and very challenging working conditions due to the heatwave. 'As a result, we have taken the decision to cancel garden waste collections this week. 'Please be reassured that we will collect any excess waste on your next scheduled collection day.' However, customers – who pay £72 per bin per year – will not receive a refund. Colchester City Council, in Essex, also suspended collections of paper, plastic, cans and glass earlier this month to spare workers from lifting heavy loads in scorching temperatures. 'Due to extreme heat and an amber weather warning issued by the Met Office, we have suspended dry recycling collections (paper, plastic, cans, and glass) scheduled for Tuesday July 1 2025,' the council said, asking residents not to put out their bins on the scheduled day. 'With temperatures expected to exceed 30C, this decision has been made to protect the health and well-being of our collection crews.' All services have since been restored, the council said. An array of other local authorities across the country have ordered residents to put their bins out earlier in the morning to enable collections and spare lorry crews from the most severe heat. Meanwhile, Birmingham's bin strike has afflicted residents for six months, as the Unite union battles the council in a row over pay. The dispute has spilled over into Westminster politics as the union suspended the membership of Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister. Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, accused Ms Rayner of ' totally and utterly abhorrent' behaviour for her support of the council. The suspension of some bin collections comes as a fresh blow to gardeners as swathes of the country are covered by hosepipe bans, with dry weather depleting reservoirs. Thames Water is the latest provider to tell its customers to use a watering can in the garden instead in an effort to limit usage. More than 1m of the company's customers in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Swindon, most of Wiltshire and parts of Berkshire, will be told to cease using hosepipes from July 22, for gardening as well as for cleaning cars and windows, and filling pools. South East Water and Yorkshire Water have also introduced restrictions on use. Farmers in East Anglia have warned of significant harvest losses after the Environment Agency imposed an 'abstraction ban' on hundreds of businesses, which prevents them from irrigating crops.
