Southampton residents report 15,000 bins not collected in February

Residents reported almost 15,000 missed bin collections in February

Almost 15,000 wheelie bins were reported as uncollected in one month in a city.

Waste and recycling collections across Southampton have faced severe disruption following a change to the working system.

The city council moved in January from allowing waste crews to go home when their round was done to enforcing contracted hours.

Leaders said the change was to "cap" an equal pay liability that had arisen.

It said it had emerged that one group of council workers had different terms and conditions to others.

Members of the overview and scrutiny management committee quizzed officers and the Labour administration on the disruption.

The council subsequently published details about missed bins in February.

Residents made reports to the council that the following collections were not made:

• 7,598 residual bins

• 7,027 recycling bins

• 221 glass bins

• 98 green bins

Council leader Lorna Fielker previously apologised for the disruption

The council document said the total of 14,944 did not provide a "comprehensive picture" of all missed bins, as not all residents across the city would have made reports.

Conservative councillor Jeremy Moulton said the true figure was "likely around 50%, which is tens of thousands more than 15,000 quoted".

In a Facebook post, he said: "You only have a two-day window to make [a] report online... Any later and [the] council website won't let you report it."

Council leader Lorna Fielker said: "Bulk bin collections have returned to normal and the backlog from all shared bins in flats and commercial premises in Southampton has been cleared.

"I understand the frustration of residents affected by service disruption and the council has deployed additional crews to help clear missed collections and excess waste."

However, the committee's chairman, Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Blackman, said a rise in recent complaints to him indicated that "disruption will continue for some time to come".

He said: "If the administration can't get a grip on the problem then it will face further rigorous questioning from the overview and scrutiny management committee."

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