Easter will not affect bin collections - council

Residents have been told to place their waste containers out as normal

The Easter holidays will not affect the schedule for bin and recycling collections across Swindon, the local council says.

Despite two bank holidays in swift succession, Swindon Borough Council said collections were set to take place as normal.

The authority said: “There will be no changes to waste and recycling collections on either Friday, 29 March or Monday, 1 April.

“Residents who are due collections on either of these days should place their containers out as normal.”

Missed collections and what the council calls "dropped work" – where crews knowingly do not collect bins or recycling from some houses or streets in order to complete their rounds - increased in the summer.

At the time, the newly-installed cabinet member responsible, councillor Chris Watts, said an ageing fleet of lorries and a shortage of staff, particularly drivers, were responsible.

Things improved, but then took a turn for the worse after a new collection regime - which saw rounds rejigged and weekly food waste collection across the borough rolled out - was introduced in November.