Extra crews called in to clear Shropshire bins backlog

Wednesday 5th January 2011, 10:50AM GMT.

Extra crews called in to clear Shropshire bins backlog

Extra crews have been drafted in to help cope with the backlog of missed bin collections across Shropshire due to the Arctic conditions which hit the county at the end of last year.

The number of vehicles being used has doubled in the Telford & Wrekin Council area this week while in the Shropshire Council region extra crews have been sent out.

But neither authority could say how long it would take to clear the backlog.

An extra 10 vehicles and crews are now being used by Telford & Wrekin Council’s contractors TWS to help catch up with recycling collections missed during over the inclement Christmas and new year holiday.

It comes as local councils across the country have been accused of complacency over rubbish collection, amid growing public anger that bins in some areas have not been emptied for as long as four weeks.

Local government minister Bob Neill wrote to all English council leaders to tell them that taxpayers regard regular bin collection as “one of the most basic services” they provide.

But Larry Wolfe, Shropshire Council’s head of waste management, said: “We are coping well. We have made collecting general waste our priority and have put on extra crews over the Christmas and new year period.”

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We expect that all collections to return to normal next week and that by diverting other resources we are very confident that we can catch up.”


  1. 1
    heather

    This spin from Telford and Wrekin is making no difference on the ground, we have not had our bins collected for three weeks, my father for 6weeks.

    Telford and Wrekin have failed on this issue!

    Also Telford and Wrekin have failed in making sure the roads are safe!

    Sack these offices and kick Cllr Eade out! … no reason to be smug !

    Report abuse

    • Martin

      Why hurl abuse at the council, the waste collections are outsourced in Telford and Wrekin to a private company not council employees.

      As for kicking Councillor Eade (plus other councillors) out you and the rest of Telford will have the opportunity in May to do exactly that.

      Report abuse

  2. 2
    womble

    A huge Thank you to all the binmen for working throughout the festive season.
    I would not like your job….constant heavy lifting & little to no thanks for it.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Christine Evans

    I would just like to congratulate our bin collectors for a first class service during the awful snow, (and yes, we did have a lot!). They have collected all types of rubbish when they said they would, working in a cheerful & efficient manner!
    Well done Market Drayton bin collectors at least!

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Grumpy G

    “The number of vehicles being used has doubled in the Telford & Wrekin Council area this week”. I find that VERY hard to believe. Doubling Up this week should result in 5 days being cleared in 2 1/2 days. The recycling in my road has been blotting the landscape since Mon 27th Dec. Forecasts from T & W last week were amended from “tommorow to ASAP”. Most people respect the truth rather than false promises.

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Nic

    My bags of rubbish piled up – but I went to the local tip!! It’s not hard to shove a few bags in the boot of your car!! Give the guys a break…..

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    salopian-sparky

    Ask not what your binmen can do for you ask
    what you can do for your binmen.
    Ok joke over,people should try to be more responsible. Don’t put out more than your fair share,dont put rotting food in open bags,
    recycle papers,bottles,cans etc.Because the more we send to land fill we pay more landfill
    tax,well those of us who have to pay it.
    Can anyone name another service that can be over used without paying more,apart from bin collections? No thouht not!
    And finaly stop whining about how much you can throw out,Many in the world are starving.

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    adam

    ive waiting 4 weeks!

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    adam evy

    the service where we live by dorrington is frankly RUBBISH, bags split on the lanes and litter all over the place

    YUK

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    federico

    i tell you that larry wolfe is talking rubbish because on my street most of the rubbish is STILL out for the rats

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    a

    OMG people are well mean, this is like minging work in cold weather and i reckun the bin men are troopers working rain or shine you guys are well tight man lay off em or diy it if u dont like it

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    foxy lady

    ever since the old SABC stopped doing the bins its gone down hill I have to say, they used to collect textiles and batteries for recycling now they just leave them behind, how is that helping to send less waste to landfill ?

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Helen R

    its simply not true they are back on track because i can see rubbish and recycling all over shropshire when ever im out and about driving around the county

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    gary

    the lazy workers at veolia and shropshire council – have failed in their duty – they have messed up – have been too cautious over a tiny bit of snow which everyone else had to cope with – have endangered public health and let paying customers down – hang your head in shame – there are no excuses – its not rocket science – how complicated can it really be – just pick it up

    Report abuse



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