Waste collection catch up under way in Dudley despite continuing freeze
Dudley Council residents whose bins were not emptied because of freezing weather are being asked to leave rubbish out for collection.
Collections were disrupted by icy conditions but as the cold snap continues the authority says it is trying to catch up.
Crews are out in the borough today (January 6) completing regular collections despite further snow showers and frozen roads.
Advice published on Dudley Council’s website said: “Our crews are out making scheduled collections this week as well as catching up on any missed since Friday.
“Please leave your bin, black box and recycling bags kerbside and we will get to you as soon as possible.”
Residents took to social media to express their frustration, blaming the council’s decision to remove selected grit bins for the disruption.
The council announced it was having problems with bin rounds via Facebook on January 4 saying: “We’re really sorry. The bad weather has meant we’ve not been able to collect some of the waste and recycling we were meant to.”
The post attracted a barrage of critical comments including from Helen Bowen who said: “The guys that do this do an amazing job especially in these conditions.
"The problems lie with the higher ranks of the council, who have cut staffing to the bone and made decisions on supposed cost cutting measures i.e. removing grit bins that now affects all of the people they are meant to serve.”
Council leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, has pledged to review decisions to remove grit bins and, where necessary, reinstate them.
Meanwhile, the big freeze looks set to continue throughout the week with temperatures predicted to hover around zero degrees.
During the bad weather council gritting teams will be busy treating roads around Dudley borough.
Information published on the council’s website said: “Our gritting teams will be out treating roads from early evening and monitoring the situation overnight.
“Most domestic forecasts look at air temperature but the winter service team are interested in road surface temperature and moisture levels, as this allows them to assess when the roads will need to be gritted.”
