Bins will still be collected in Coventry despite two month strike
A private contractor is being brought in to help collect waste
A private bin collection service will help collect waste while the city's bin lorry drivers continue striking, the council has announced.
Unite, the union representing drivers, confirmed that strike action would ramp up, with no collections at all during February and March, affecting all residential and commercial locations.
Residents were being advised to empty waste at drop sites to ease the situation, but with strikes escalating, a better means of disposal is required.
The council will work alongside private contractor Tom White Waste during the affected months to collect bins every two weeks.
Once up and running, some bin drop sites will be changed to recycling only, so residents can continue to dispose of recyclable rubbish.
Household waste will be collected from Tuesday to Friday on a fortnightly basis, with Mondays reserved for collections from flats and businesses.
Lorry drivers remain in strike over additional pay and Christmas working, while the union rejected council offers on festive working hours and a pay increase toward the bottom of their pay scale.
Strikes are likely to continue, with Coventry City Council saying it's one of the highest paying local authorities in the West Midlands for Class II HGV drivers, and that it's limited on what else it can offer due to its duty to all of the 4,500-strong workforce.