Residents in Bournemouth are being asked for their patience and understanding over the disruption to their bin collections as a result of the worst winter weather for 30 years.
Crews have had to suspend collection services again today (Thursday, 8th January 2010) because of the unprecedented icy conditions in residential roads. The situation is being reviewed daily and updates posted on the Council’s website. In the meantime residents are advised to put any excess waste in bags out next to their bin on their next scheduled collection day.
The Council is aware that a number of residents in the borough will have had their refuse or recycling collection missed more than once due to the weather and the festive holidays. Where it is safe to do residents can take any excess recycling to the neighbourhood recycling centres found across the Borough. Details of locations can be found on our website www.bournemouth.gov.uk/recycling. Millhams Community Recycling Centre is also operating as normal at the present time.
Reg Hutton, Head of Operations, said: "Bournemouth like all councils across the country is facing very challenging circumstances. The weather is extreme and in view of the icy conditions we have to consider safety the number one priority. As a result decisions are being made daily as to whether it is right to operate refuse and recycling collections when residential roads are difficult to access."
"Unfortunately we are aware that for a number of residents it means their bins have not been emptied on more than one occasion. We ask them to bear with us and to put out excess waste the following week. As the cold snap is set to continue into the next week the situation is being reviewed daily and if necessary emergency measures may have to be considered the longer the weather remains so extreme."
In the meantime all available staff are being redeployed onto round-the-clock gritting operations. The Council has supplies of grit for the next 10 days with further supplies due to arrive imminently. The Council also has an arrangement in place with neighbouring authorities to provide additional grit if stocks start to run low.