Waste backlog residents in Bath offered paid collection work

Only about 50% of scheduled collections are taking place each day, the council said

A council which is facing a recycling backlog has offered to pay residents who are willing to help collect waste.

Due to a "go-slow and overtime ban" by contractors, only half of scheduled collections are taking place, Bath and North East Somerset Council said.

It said it is keen to hear from people interested in joining the collection crews on a temporary paid basis.

The majority of Kier staff are expected to go on strike on 14 and 15 January, the council added.

'Difficult situation'

Kier is contracted to work with the authority on its in-house refuse collection service until next year.

"The council is doing its utmost to resolve the current difficult recycling situation, which is not of our making," a council spokesman said.

It expects everybody will have their recycling collected within two weeks, but added it was "hard to predict the exact impact" with the prospect of further strike action threatening an increase in the backlog.