The people of Stockport have been told that due to the ongoing effects of Covid on the garbage crews, they must expect their green bin collections to be suspended for another “two to three weeks”.
Due to coronavirus-related absences, residents missed their food and garden waste collection earlier this month, but it was hoped the situation would be relatively short-lived.
However, the council now expects the problems due to the number of employees who are either sick or self-isolating to last at least until the end of June.
Read more: All coronavirus rules and restrictions that will apply from June 21st and will no longer apply
In a message to local residents on Monday, the agency said it was doing “everything we can to improve the situation” and would try to empty the missed bins next week.
The green bin collections were shut down altogether at the beginning of the pandemic before a 14-day service was restored.
The usual weekly collection returned from the end of March this year – but was derailed again because Covid employees were hit at the contractors Totally Local Company (TLC).
Councilor Sheila Bailey, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport, was asked about the ongoing problems at an Audit Committee meeting on Monday evening.
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Committee chair, Coun Mark Roberts, whose Lib Dem group has been critical of the labor administration’s handling of the situation, asked what is being done to improve “resolve and resistance within the service”.
Coun Bailey said while the pandemic taught them “never to say never again,” steps are being taken to ensure that TLC is better prepared and more flexible going forward.
She said, “There are two aspects to this. First, addressing the immediate problem and overcoming this particular problem of employees who are either sick or self-isolating, and getting the service back on track as soon as possible, as it is safe to say and there is the possibility to do so.
“This is short term and I think there are several lessons that have already been considered.”
Sheila Bailey
She continued, “We are currently in talks to develop a plan that will not only increase the resilience of TLC and its employees, but will put the company in a far better position to deal with the situation in the event of an emergency.” Removed the same thing we just went through is happening again. “
Coun Bailey also informed the meeting that the resource issue was being addressed.
“We will see to it that additional resources are made available,” she said.
“Agency employees are called in. Employees from other areas of the TLC are transferred to the pick-up service – and these are things that can be done once in a short-term situation.
“In order for TLC to have the resilience to deal with emergencies like this and on this scale, there has to be a plan.”
Coun Bailey added that the Council and TLC are currently developing proposals that will leave the service “in a far better place” and capable of dealing with unexpected and emergency situations.
“They will undoubtedly be preferred at some point in the near future,” she said.
“TLC not only has to deal with the Covid situation, our house construction is also increasing and every house that is built has four containers. Therefore, the capacity within TLC to continue to provide adequate services will be part of these discussions. “
For more information or to report a missed garbage collection visit https://www.stockport.gov.uk/topic/bins-and-recycling
The Stockport City Council’s Committee on Examination of Communities and Housing met on Monday evening (June 14th).
