South Tyneside Council opens skip drop-off points amid bin strikes

Full skips will be regularly exchanged for an empty skip throughout the day

Skips have been made available for residents to drop off their household waste, amid bin strike disruption.

South Tyneside Council has set up temporary waste drop-off points at nine locations across the borough for the next seven days.

Refuse workers, from the GMB and Unite unions, have taken their fourth round of strike action over bullying and mismanagement allegations.

The skips can be used from 09:00 GMT to 15:30 GMT and will be removed at night.

Skips are available from Saturday 27 January to Saturday 3 February inclusive at:

• Boldon Colliery - car park at The Shack, NE35 9AL

• Hebburn - Hebburn Central car park to side, NE32 1AB

• Hebburn - Clegwell Community Association, Mountbatten Avenue, NE31 2QP

• Horsley Hill - car park at rear of shops on Centenary Avenue, NE34 6RF

• Jarrow - Tyne Street car park, NE32 3PR

• South Shields - Temple Park Centre car park, NE34 8QN

• South Shields - One Trinity Green side car park (not rear) NE33 1SA

• South Shields - Winchester Street car park, NE33 2PS

• Whitburn - car park behind Latimers, SR6 7NT

The drop-off points are for bagged domestic household waste only, and the locations have been identified to ensure there is "adequate access" for vehicles, the council said.

A spokesperson said: "We appreciate that not everyone will be able to get to these drop-off points, which is why we would appeal for people to support their family, friends and neighbours wherever possible during these difficult times.

"Unfortunately, recent bad weather has exacerbated the situation with litter being strewn across the borough."

The Labour-run council has also asked residents to put out their grey household waste bins across four days next week until they are emptied.

Independent investigation

This is the fourth time refuse collection workers have taken industrial action, after strikes in November and December.

While workers are due back on Tuesday, the council has warned collectors are also taking other action short of a strike, which is affecting collection days.

An independent investigation was commissioned by the local authority in September following grievances lodged in June.

The GMB has previously said its members had received no offer from the council and were "extremely disappointed" to be taking further industrial action.