New chaos over bin collections with one service suspended in Rotherham
GARDEN waste collections have been suspended by Rotherham Council until September as it grapples with a crisis with its bins service – and is now facing a call to help vulnerable residents cope.
Those who had put bins out - paying extra to have green waste collected - in anticipation of a collection were told to take them back off the pavement.
The move came at the height of the growing season, when demand for green waste removal is likely to be high.
But the council say it has been necessary to prioritise the removal of general waste.
It is not yet clear how the authority intends to compensate those who paid a council tax top-up to have waste removed.
By the time councillors were informed of the measure, the suspension had already been implemented, “with immediate effect”.
It comes after residents had already experienced an unreliable service, with missed collections.
The authority has advised residents to use Household Waste Recycling Centres to dispose of plant material, but Cllr Simon Ball, who represents Maltby and Hellaby West, has now written to the council urging it “to address the challenges this decision poses for vulnerable residents”.
He stated: “Many residents, particularly those without cars, cannot access these centres due to pedesrian entry restrictions.
"This is especially problematic fir participants in the assisted collection scheme, who are often elderly or disabled and unable to transport garden waste themselves."
Cllr Ball has requested that the council now “implement safeguards to protect assisted collection scheme participants during this suspension.”
That, he said, “would reflect RMBC’s commitment to equitable service provision and support for its most vulnerable residents”.
Meanwhile, the council is under pressure from its own party, with Labour’s Rother Valley MP Jake Richards raising a petition of people wanting redress for the cash paid to have green waste collected.
The Rotherham Advertiser has been told by staff that the situation has arisen through changes to working practices, which has resulted in large numbers needing sick leave.
They have also complained that a new directive of collective responsibility means crews which work fast and complete their round are then expected to help out with others, rather than end their working day, as historically happened.
New collection staff are being recruited, though there has been a warning of expected high attrition rates of hopeful recruits who do not last in the job, due to the demands of the work.
The situation is understood to have been compounded by difficulties in engaging agency staff.
Rotherham Council told residents: “We understand this is frustrating and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience.
“Please be assured that we are actively recruiting new staff to bolster the service and making changes intended to make it more efficient and effective in the future.
“We fully understand that the garden waste service is a paid subscription, and we are considering the best way to make amends for the disruption.
“Further details will be communicated in due course,” residents have been told.
The council has previously told collection staff they intended to recruit 22 extra colleagues.
In late July, the Advertiser was told garden waste collections were back on course, but the latest development means they will not be emptied until September 1.