Changes to waste collection due to impact of cold weather

Changes are being made to waste collections in Tendring due to the impacts of the recent cold weather.

Snow and ice meant that Tendring District Council’s (TDC) waste contractors Veolia were unable to carry out any rubbish and recycling collections on Monday (8 February) as it was too dangerous.

Household collection days were pushed back one day to give crews a chance to make up the lost day, with collections scheduled for Saturday.

However, although the improved conditions meant collections could be made on some main roads, smaller streets – such as those on housing estates or rural roads – were still too treacherous for the large trucks to navigate.

A full review of the situation was held today (Thursday, 11 February), and a decision made to alter collection schedules as the cold weather and ice persists.

Households are now being asked to take back in any uncollected waste, and present it on their next scheduled collection day for the relevant recycling week.

Properties on a green week this week – food waste, plastic and tin recycling, and black bins – should put this waste out on their scheduled day week beginning 22 February.

Recognising additional black bin waste will be created, residents can put out up to three extra bags of side waste for collection.

Homes on a red week this week – food waste and paper/cardboard recycling – should put this waste back out week beginning 22 February. No additional side waste will be allowed for black bins as these collections were unaffected.

Food waste remains weekly, and there is no limit on the amount of recycling households can present. If standard recycling boxes are full then any suitable container can be used – but this cannot be a wheelie bin.

Michael Talbot, TDC Cabinet Member for Environment, praised the contractors for their efforts this week.

“We have seen some exceptional weather over the past week, and full credit must go to our bin crews for battling the snow to get to depots in the early hours and trying their best to carry on with collections – but safety must come first,” Cllr Talbot said.

“Initial plans to catch-up have been thwarted by the continued cold snap, and so we now have this revised plan in place.

“Veolia have extra crews and lorries on stand-by to collect the additional waste which will have accrued, to make sure they can cope with the increased demand.

“Thank you to our residents for your patience and understanding.”