How are garden waste collections more important than peoples lives

KxMx

We have black bin one week, blue and brown the next.
Brown bins have been suspended in my area.
I agree, it isn't important.

pjcox2005

Presumably, it's the same staff working whether it's black, blue or brown bin so the risk isn't particularly reduced by not picking up the green waste as they'll still together where necessary or 2m apart if they can. Potentially, removing green waste collection reduces the time together slightly but how significant an impact that is I don't know if you're then having a shift with those people the next day.

Does it also create issues with people's wages as employees have to be furloughed completely for Government 80% scheme (assuming jobs are outsourced not just direct with council) which may not be possible with other collections still needed.

One issue with removing green waste collection is that people will have bonfires, reducing air quality. A friend who it's suspected has Covid 19 was struggling with breathing, with a neighbour then lighting bonfire and smoke getting into the room. Caused her massive difficulty at a time when she wasn't in a state to just get up and close the window.

Point being, there is almost always other factors that can create an issue just be cancelling something so the decision may not be as clear cut as you think.

KatrinaWaves

Andy_L said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Andy_L said:

People are going to produce as much garden waste during lock down as before (possibly more if they "dig for victory") what are they susposed to do with the waste?

God forbid someone has a bag of garden waste in their garden/garage/drive to avoid a bloody virus...

So why collect any rubbish?

Because they are statutory services. Garden waste is not.

KatrinaWaves

pjcox2005 said:

Presumably, it's the same staff working whether it's black, blue or brown bin so the risk isn't particularly reduced by not picking up the green waste as they'll still together where necessary or 2m apart if they can. Potentially, removing green waste collection reduces the time together slightly but how significant an impact that is I don't know if you're then having a shift with those people the next day.

Does it also create issues with people's wages as employees have to be furloughed completely for Government 80% scheme (assuming jobs are outsourced not just direct with council) which may not be possible with other collections still needed.

One issue with removing green waste collection is that people will have bonfires, reducing air quality. A friend who it's suspected has Covid 19 was struggling with breathing, with a neighbour then lighting bonfire and smoke getting into the room. Caused her massive difficulty at a time when she wasn't in a state to just get up and close the window.

Point being, there is almost always other factors that can create an issue just be cancelling something so the decision may not be as clear cut as you think.

It is unlikely to be the same crews, they dont have time to do multiple rounds.

Also consider many staff may not be at work due to COVID or the underlying risks advised to stay at home, so not enough staff to complete all services, therefore non statutory ones will fall to the wayside.

People lighting bonfires cannot be blamed on the lack of bin collections, same as flytipping. people acting antisocially have no one to blame but themselves. If they are burning rubbish and causing poor air quality contact environmental health.

Garden waste is non statutory and central govt removed funding for it some years back. That is why councils now charge, as they do not have to collect it AT ALL anymore!

DoaM

FYI ... food/garden waste (which is a common bin in my county) is not charged for extra here in Scotland ... well at least not in my county.

KatrinaWaves

DoaM said:

FYI ... food/garden waste (which is a common bin in my county) is not charged for extra here in Scotland ... well at least not in my county.

Its not in every county in the UK either, mine doesnt, but they can choose to at any point (I reckon next year as I think income for every council is gonna take a hit this year)

KxMx

Not the same staff here.
Dedicated crews and vehicles for each separate service.
So when my black bin is being picked up, at the same time another crew will be doing blue bins in another area.
Brown bins are separate crew again, usually arriving a few hours after the blue bin is emptied.

adonis

The trouble is they neglect to tell you they are suspending the collections, I don't check the council website every week only when there are bank holidays due.

My issue is we can have food waste in ours so I have a lot of chicken and meat remains in the bin that will be starting to stink and I am not going to dig them out from the grass cuttings and various prunings.

shaun_from_Africa

KatrinaWaves said:

Andy_L said:

God forbid someone has a bag of garden waste in their garden/garage/drive to avoid a bloody virus...

So why collect any rubbish?

Because they are statutory services. Garden waste is not.

There's also the fact that uncollected household rubbish could pose a health risk and start to attract vermin, something that wouldn't be the case with garden waste.

[Deleted User]

adonis said:

My issue is we can have food waste in ours so I have a lot of chicken and meat remains in the bin that will be starting to stink and I am not going to dig them out from the grass cuttings and various prunings.

I think you should seriously re-think that attitude. 

Why have you put such food waste in your garden bin in the first place?

 Remove it now, the health risk isn't going away anytime soon..