Driver shortage affecting waste collections

Waste bin collections are being missed in parts of Cheshire East as the council revealed it is still struggling to recruit drivers.

Black bin collections have been missed over the past month in areas including Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Alsager, Wilmslow and recycling bins have remained uncollected across the county

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council has said: “A national shortage of HGV drivers and factors including Covid-related staff sickness and self-isolation, and a large increase in the amount of waste produced by households during lockdown, is continuing to have an impact on our waste collection services.

“As of the end of October, our environmental services company, Ansa, had five HGV driver vacancies.

“These are unable to be filled via agency drivers.

“Ansa is committed to supporting the development of its workforce and promotes internal training opportunities to staff members.

“Seven of its refuse loaders are now awaiting HGV tests.”

Cheshire East was one of the few councils which managed to keep all its bin collections going through the lockdown periods.

Regarding winter road gritting a spokesperson for the council said: “Cheshire East’s highways team has contingency planning arrangements in place with regards to winter drivers and the potential effects of Covid.

“These plans were implemented last winter and ensured this critical service was delivered without interruption.”

He added further information about the job vacancies at Ansa is available on the company’s website https://www.ansa.co.uk/homepage.aspx