Warm weather has created a gardening frenzy in a Black Country borough where garden waste collectors can’t keep up with the amount of grass cuttings, weeds and leaves being left out for them.

Sandwell teams are cutting short normal rounds and going back to depots because trucks are quickly filled to their limit. Neighbourhoods chief Councillor Mahboob Hussain said crews had no alternative but to return to their depots.

“The response that we’re getting to our expanded garden waste collections is massive,” he said.

“While we’re pleased about that, it is putting our schedules under pressure. We have now taken nearly 100,000 loads to the tip, and sometimes our crews are having to stop their round short because they have already reached their weight limit for the vehicle.”

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Warm weather has created a gardening frenzy in a Black Country borough where garden waste collectors can’t keep up with the amount of grass cuttings, weeds and leaves being left out for them.

Sandwell teams are cutting short normal rounds and going back to depots because trucks are quickly filled to their limit. Neighbourhoods chief Councillor Mahboob Hussain said crews had no alternative but to return to their depots.

“The response that we’re getting to our expanded garden waste collections is massive,” he said.

“While we’re pleased about that, it is putting our schedules under pressure. We have now taken nearly 100,000 loads to the tip, and sometimes our crews are having to stop their round short because they have already reached their weight limit for the vehicle.”

Some collections took place the day after they were originally scheduled.

“While we would apologise to people who are not getting their collections quite when they should be, we also want to assure them that their garden waste will be collected – it just might end up being the next day.”

He said demand for the service peaked much earlier than had been anticipated and they were dealing with quantities not expected until July or August.

“But we’re now making contingency plans and hopefully things will be back to normal by next week.”