Council prioritising food and general waste while crews tackle backlog
Swindon Borough Council has confirmed that some recycling and garden waste collections are delayed as crews respond to a spell of high temperatures and increased staff sickness. The council says it is focusing resources on food waste and general rubbish collections to keep the most critical services running.
In advice issued to residents, the authority asked that any waste not collected should be left at the kerbside so crews can pick it up as soon as routes allow. A council spokesperson explained the operational pressures and thanked residents for their patience.
“Our waste collection crews are working hard to keep services running during the current hot spell... Our crews will collect any outstanding waste as soon as they can. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to get collections back on schedule.”
Why collections are affected
The council cited two main causes for the disruption: higher levels of staff sickness locally and a nationwide shortage of drivers. These combined pressures have led to prioritisation decisions, meaning some recycling and garden waste rounds may be deferred until capacity is restored.
- Food waste and general waste: being prioritised
- Recycling and garden waste: experiencing delays
- Action requested of residents: leave missed collections at the kerbside
Recycling performance highlighted
Alongside the operational update, the council published a figure intended to show the impact of the food recycling service over the last year. Residents have recycled 4,625 of food waste through the weekly scheme, a volume the council equated to several large, everyday-weight comparisons.
| Comparison | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| African bush elephants | 770 |
| Double-decker buses | 385 |
| 1kg bags of sugar | 4.6 million |
The spokesperson emphasised the environmental benefit of diverting food waste from general rubbish and noted that the material is used to produce renewable energy and fertiliser.
What residents should do and where to check
Households unsure about what can be placed in their food caddy are directed to the council’s online tool; the spokesperson specifically recommended searching for “Waste Wizard” on the council website for guidance. For the present, leaving missed collections at the kerbside remains the borough’s request while services recover.
Information about revised collection schedules or further service changes will be published by the council; residents affected by missed collections should monitor the council website and local updates for the latest information.
