FOLLOWING this week’s snow and freezing conditions there has been disruption to household refuse collections which has meant that bins and waste has not been collected from many homes in Thurrock.
Cllr Aaron Watkins, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “The conditions this week have meant we needed to take a tough decision to temporarily suspend waste collections to prioritise staff safety. Attempts which were made were not possible, with instances of the lorries skidding over ice.
“The team have been inspecting each morning to assess the conditions and we have made the difficult choice to suspend tomorrow’s collection and start afresh next Monday for a full round of collections, weather permitting.
“I would like to thank residents for bearing with us and understanding that we have to put the safety of our bin crews first. We will be collecting side waste next week, so please leave them next to your refuse and recycling bins.
“Our waste collection staff has been deployed to clean and clear vital footpaths across the borough as part of the more than 100 council workers who have been hard at work making sure that footpaths leading to medical centres, COVID test and vaccination centres, and transport hubs are kept clear.”
It is anticipated that waste collections will resume on Monday 15 February. Crews will take up to two bin bags of extra side waste left next to green or grey bins and a reasonable amount of flattened cardboard left next to blue recycling bins during next week’s collections.
During this time the extra loads crews will be collecting could mean collections take longer than usual and work may extend into Saturday. Residents should leave their bin out if it is not collected on the usual day next week.
