Missed bins in Bucks due to 'lack of drivers and Covid'

Bucks Council said recent “significant disruption” to waste collection was due to a national unavailability of HGV drivers and some crew having to self-isolate – after residents suffering with festering bins branded the service a “disgrace”.

The local authority said other councils were facing the same issues, but that additional drivers were being recruited.

Parsonage Close, High Wycombe 

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It said around 20 per cent of collections had not been completed and are being carried over or “rescheduled for the next day”.

Furious residents took to social media to vent their frustrations, with many complaining about resulting pests.

Rutland Street, High Wycombe

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“We now have rats and flies, and it has become a health hazard,” said Justin Newns in Rutland Street, High Wycombe.

“The general waste should be collected weekly but rarely is. Our green waste hasn’t been collected since April and I usually have to report that the recycling has been missed most weeks.”

He added: “When you try to report it you can’t, it just says, ‘we know this is outstanding’.

“And when you finally can report it, you are then told that you should have reported it within two days.” 

Another resident claimed rubbish had been mounting up in Parsonage Close, High Wycombe since July 9, and was only collected on July 27.

On July 24, someone else tweeted: “Still no bin collection from Tuesday this week in Prestwood. What is actually going on?”

Then, in response to a public reminder about reporting bin issues posted online by the council on July 23, someone replied: “What about maggots on uncollected food bins?

“Spent the first hour of today pouring boiling water over the bin, bagging the contents into three layers of plastic bags and then my husband had to take it all to the dump.

“We weren’t warned refuse collectors weren’t coming.”

Yet another Prestwood resident tweeted on July 22: “Any reason why domestic refuse hasn’t been collected in Prestwood? Due on 20/07, reported and still nothing.”

Then, on July 21, someone else tweeted: “Yet another missed food bin collection. Have reported, again.

“We have flies and maggots as our food waste hasn’t been collected for weeks.

“Even moved the bins so your contractors wouldn’t have to walk up our road, no joy.

“Please resolve this issue, it’s a disgrace.”

Bucks Council said to check its website before reporting a missed bin – and to “leave your bin presented and ready for collection” if it was missed.

“Our teams are working really hard to get the service back up and running to full capacity despite the challenges faced by external factors,” said cabinet member Cllr Peter Strachan.

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