Temporary changes to household waste collections affecting Chiltern and Wycombe areas only from Monday 16th August 2021

Temporary changes to household waste collections have been announced that are likely to affect only the Chiltern and Wycombe areas of Buckinghamshire.

From Monday 16th August 2021 until Friday 10th September 2021, Buckinghamshire Council will be collecting food waste as general rubbish in the Chiltern and Wycombe areas only.

This changes to food waste collection is because of a national shortage of HGV drivers and a small number of Covid-related cases meaning crews have had to self-isolate in line with Government guidelines. These factors have impacted waste collection services in the south of the county in recent weeks.

As an interim measure, it means that between Monday 16th August 2021 and Friday 10th September 2021, residents in Chiltern and Wycombe should throw their food waste away with their general rubbish (in the black bin). There will be no separate food waste collection during this period, however the general rubbish will still be collected every two weeks. Collections in the rest of the county are unaffected.

While the reasons for the disruption in Chiltern and Wycombe are beyond the Council’s control, Buckinghamshire Council’s first concern is for the residents in the affected areas and how they continue to provide a waste collection service in this challenging climate.

Alongside the decision to temporarily collect food waste with general rubbish in Chiltern and Wycombe the Council’s contractors there are taking proactive measures to address the staff shortage, including incentivised recruitment packages and retention bonuses for staff.

This is a temporary measure only and food waste in these areas will be collected separately again in these areas from Monday 13th September 2021.

Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment at is Buckinghamshire Council, said: ‘This is far from ideal but our overall priority has to be keeping our waste collection service going for residents in this really difficult climate. By collecting food waste as general rubbish for a month, our drivers will be able to collect all waste in fewer rounds while we suffer staff shortage.

I’m really sorry our customers in these areas are facing disruption and we hope that ultimately, this is a short-term issue. Please be assured we are all working very hard to address it.

Many other councils are experiencing similar problems as this situation is affecting many areas. I want to thank our customers for their support, patience and understand during this difficult period. I also want to thank our hard-working crews who are working in a challenging climate of staff shortages.‘

Further information can be found on the Buckinghamshire Council website at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/bin-collection-recycling-and-waste/.

*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Council.