RUBBISH collections will be changing in Chiltern and Wycombe areas for a month as a national shortage of HGV drivers and a "small number" of Covid-related cases continue to cause chaos for the service.

From Monday, August 16, Buckinghamshire Council will be collecting food waste as general rubbish for a month.

It means residents in the Wycombe and Chiltern areas should, as an "interim measure", throw their food waste in with their general rubbish in the black bin.

There will be no food waste collections until Monday, September 13.

Collections in the rest of the county are unaffected.

Buckinghamshire Council has blamed recent problems with collecting rubbish - which has led to huge complaints about piles of rotting waste - on a shortage of HGV drivers nationally and those who have to self-isolate.

They said there has been a "small number" of Covid-related cases which has meant drivers have had to self-isolate.

They added that the reasons for disruption are "beyond the council's control", but said their main concern is still being able to provide a waste collection during the "challenging climate".

In a bid to tackle the problem, the council's contractors are offering incentivised recruitment packages and retention bonuses for staff.

Peter Strachan, the climate change and environment cabinet member at the council, has apologised to residents for the disruption. He said: "This is far from ideal but our overall priority has to be keeping our waste collection service going for residents in this really difficult climate.

"By collecting food waste as general rubbish for a month, our drivers will be able to collect all waste in fewer rounds while we suffer staff shortage.

“I’m really sorry our customers in these areas are facing disruption and we hope that ultimately, this is a short-term issue. Please be assured we are all working very hard to address it.

“Many other councils are experiencing similar problems as this situation is affecting many areas. I want to thank our customers for their support, patience and understand during this difficult period.

"I also want to thank our hard-working crews who are working in a challenging climate of staff shortages.”