Bins 'overflow' across Slough amid 'severe staffing issues'

Residents took to social media to complain about their “overflowing” bins after collections across the borough were missed last week.

One local wrote: “The bins are overflowing now and also we can’t leave them outside on the pavement as people will put all sorts of rubbish in them and then the bin men won’t collect them due to that.”

Another resident said the red bins, which are allocated for recycling, have not been collected for two weeks.

On Monday, April 4, Slough Borough Council was forced to apologise via its social media channels over missed bin pick-ups.

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The council claims this was down to “severe staffing issues” with illness plaguing the bin crew. There was an “inability” to secure enough interim staff to cover the absent workforce.

On top of that, one of the bin lorries had an engine failure and needed repairs.

In a statement on social media, the council said: “Apologies to anyone who has had their bin collection missed over the last week or so.

“There have been severe staffing issues and unfortunately this continues into this week and one vehicle is out of service awaiting a repair.

“Crews were out on Saturday collecting what they could, and efforts will be made this week to collect as scheduled and pick up what has been missed.

Crews have been out on Saturday to collect missed bins (Image: PA)

“We understand the frustrations, but please bear with us. Thank you for your patience.”

Conservative leader Dexter Smith (Colnbrook with Poyle) said this was more about the time it takes for the rounds to be done not being specified in the contract rather than staff shortages.

He said: “I think it [the waste contract] needs to be reviewed again. If it means that people aren’t getting the basic service, then the contract is not good enough for the job and needs to be reviewed.

“It’s just not good enough to blame it on they [the council] can’t afford to pay for overtime.”

Residents usually have their bins collected on a weekly basis, but the Colnbrook and Foxborough Conservatives claimed the council would be reducing the service to bi-weekly from June.

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A council spokesperson replied: “We are not going to fortnightly collections in June. No decision has been made on when, or even if, Slough will move to fortnightly bin collections.”