Waste worker faces threats to 'smash my face in'

A worker at a recycling centre has told of how people have threatened to "wait for him at the end of the day" and "smash his face in" after a rise in reports of abuse at the sites.

Waste operator Suez has recorded a 42% increase in reports of abuse at its household waste sites nationally in 2025 compared to the previous year.

The company has seen 64 incidents reported in Greater Manchester, with employees facing threats of violence for refusing to accept trade waste and enforcing site rules.

Michael Peers, who works at the centre in Bredbury, said: "You could have 1,000 people coming on site, and 999 are great and follow requests, but it's that one person."

The waste firm has reported a 42% increase in incidents of abuse across its sites

Suez operates 20 household waste recycling centres across Greater Manchester, and said the sites receive 400,000 visitors a year.

The operator has called for members of the public to respect its staff as it released the abuse figures.

Stuart Taylor, who is a supervisor for five of the sites in the county, said he "constantly" worries about staff at the five sites he is responsible for.

He said one person was hit on site and had their jaw broken.

"It's not something you come to work for, to have that environment," he said.

Mr Peers, who works as a chargehand, said he had received threats of violence while doing his job.

"Members of the public suggesting they're going to come back and wait for us at the end of the day, smash my face in," he said.

He said "no one's going to ask to be abused" while doing their job and "everyone should have respect for one another in their profession".