Southampton: Bin bags 'pile up' after waste system delays

Council leader Lorna Fielker apologised for the disruption

A new system for bin collections has led to waste building up on streets, a council has said.

Southampton City Council said waste crews were "no longer incentivised to rush" after agreeing to work their full hours, rather than finishing when the job was done.

The change has caused missed collections for several weeks, the authority added.

Council leader Lorna Fielker apologised for the disruption.

In a statement on the council website, she said: "Previously, the waste crews operated a 'task and finish' system, which meant they were able to leave work as soon as they had finished their collection round.

Residents said whole streets had been missed and bin bags were piling up (stock image)

"The new system that has been agreed with the unions requires crews to work the full hours they are being paid for each day, and take the breaks they should be taking.

"This means teams are no longer incentivised to rush, which reduces the risks of injuries and accidents, and provides time for training and development."

One resident commented on Facebook: "All told, 40 roads were missed around here". Another posted: "Lots of excess bags piling up."

Ms Fielker said the majority of bins were being collected as normal.

She added: "We are trying to fix the issues that some of our crews seem to be having with the new ways of working, and we will resolve this as quickly as we can.

"In the meantime we will be mobilising staff from other departments to help clear side waste and help minimise the build-up of rubbish on the streets."

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