A Chesham woman claimed she narrowly avoided a whopping vet bill when her dog ate food waste left on the street.

The woman, who declined to be named, took to social media to tell Bucks Council she could have been hit with a £1,000 vet bill – blaming the suspension of food refuse collections.

Residents in Chiltern and Wycombe have been asked to throw away food waste with their general household rubbish since mid-August.

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This is due to a national shortage of HGV drivers and a small number of Covid-19 related cases, including crew being required to self-isolate in line with Government guidelines.

Bucks Council is asking residents to carry on disposing of food waste in this way until further notice.

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But the dog owner claimed Chesham streets are “covered with food refuse” as a result, adding residents “deserve better”.

“Is it true that food waste collections are not starting again until February, Bucks Council?” they said.

“I live in Chesham and the streets are covered with food refuse, because people have to put it in their normal bins. We have been composting our waste but have run out of space now.

“Yesterday I almost took my dog to the emergency vets because she’d eaten something she shouldn’t have.

“Potentially a £1,000 bill, because Bucks Council can’t manage to organise food waste collection.

“Absolutely shocking way to treat your service users. We deserve better.”

“Despite best efforts to recruit new drivers and upskill existing staff, there are still not enough drivers to reinstate separate food collections (on September 13), as previously planned,” Bucks Council website states.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

It adds: “Brown food caddies will still be emptied if they’re put out on general rubbish week only, but this waste will not be recycled during this time.”

Bucks Council was approached for further comment.

For more information about food waste collections, click here

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