We will continue to carry out collections where it is considered safe to do so. Your normal collection times may vary so please put bins out by 7am unless otherwise advised.
Adverse Weather
Snow and Ice
The roads may be too dangerous to bring bin lorries along and could put pedestrians, children, other vehicles and our crew at risk.
Even though the road appears clear the pathways may be dangerous for our crews to collect bins.
An increase in parked cars on streets during bad weather can also stop vehicles from safely getting into or out of a street.
Extreme Heat
As guided by the Met Office, the crews may start bin collections from 6am to limit working in the hottest part of the day. This also allows the crews to take extra breaks to rest and rehydrate if needed.
We will put out messages on our social media pages in hot weather and will also update our webpage - please subscribe to web page updates here.
Floods
Although the collection vehicles are large, they struggle sometimes to get through flood water and can get water-damaged which results in the vehicle being taken off the road for costly repairs.
Also, there is a risk to crews if they disembark the vehicle into flood water of hidden obstacles, potholes and exposed drains.
If we can’t access your bins due to flood water, please place your bins/bags out once the water subsides and we will empty them as soon as we can.
We will try and work around flooded areas, using alternative routes, where possible.
High Winds
This can cause issues with bins or bags blowing over or away. On very windy days, we would ask you to consider whether the bins need to be put out on that collection day or can wait until the next one if, for example, it is only half full.
If it does need to be put out, please place it in a sheltered yet visible spot. Blue bags should be placed between bins where possible.
If there is no shelter at the kerbside, place bins in clusters with your neighbours if you can.
If we can't collect your bins or blue bag because of the adverse weather conditions
- Please consider if your bins or bags need to be put out for that particular collection or whether they can wait for the next collection.
- If needed, please put your bins/blue bag out for collection on the scheduled days.
- If they are not collected, please leave them out. They will be collected as soon as it is safe to do so. Saturdays and Sundays may also be used to catch up on collections where possible.
- If we have not emptied your general waste bin (usually green) for more than one collection, up to three black bags of side waste will be taken from beside that bin on the next scheduled collection.
- Although the road and pavement conditions may improve significantly, service catch-up across the borough can take a few days to complete.
Advice regarding recycling and waste in the event of a service disruption
- Double bag food waste, disposable nappies and other perishable waste. Once cooled, pour fats, drippings, and grease into glass jars or plastic bottles with lids.
- Remove any recyclable or non-perishable waste from your green bin to allow more storage for food waste or disposable nappies.
- Make use of home compost bins for vegetable and fruit peelings, tea bags, cardboard, and paper if one is available to you.
- Rinse out and securely bag excess recycling. This waste will not perish or smell and can be stored safely away from combustible materials. When your recycling collections start again please place these materials loose (not bagged) into your blue bin or bag as appropriate. Please note that only excess cardboard, broken down to the same size as your blue bag and bundled, can be taken from beside your recycling bin. All other recycling will need to be contained in the blue bin or the blue bag for paper and cardboard.
- Make use of the Household Waste Recycling Centres to dispose of excess waste. In times of bad weather, please call 0300 111 8000 or check Recycling centres - Staffordshire County Council (staffordshire.gov.uk) to ensure the sites are open before you set off.