Coventry bin collection dates announced amid lorry driver strikes
It comes after Unite the Union confirmed 19 more strike dates
Coventry City Council has announced a plan for every household in the city to get their green-lidded household waste bin emptied every other week, after Unite the Union confirmed strike dates would continue into March.
Whilst there will be no collections this week (week commencing 10 Jan) due to strike action, bins will start being emptied next week (week commencing 17 Jan).
The plans mean that those whose collection usually falls on a Wednesday will have their collection temporarily moved to a Tuesday, and people who usually have a collection on a Friday will be temporarily moved to a Thursday. The council says residents that have waited the longest for a household waste collection will be prioritised.
Anyone without access to the internet is asked to visit their local library or call Customer Services on 08085 834333.
But recycling collections will be suspended until strike action has ended so that the local authority can concentrate on collecting household waste, and garden waste collections remain on pause for the same reason.
A statement from the council said: "Coventry City Council has appreciated the effort local people have made to use the drop sites and to look after friends, family and neighbours who might not have access to transport. Almost 60,000 vehicles have visited the sites so far dropping off more than 200,000 black bin bags. If you know someone who can’t get online to check their collection date, then please help us by sharing this information with them.
"All six drop sites will remain open for residents who have any waste to dispose of, including recycling. They are open seven days a week from 8am-4.30pm and there’s no need to book. Residents can also take waste to The Tip but will need to book in advance. Information on the drop sites can be found at www.coventry.gov.uk/dropsites
"More drop sites are being planned in an attempt to ensure fair spread of the facilities across the city.
"Residents are also reminded that if they plan to use a company to dispose of any additional waste, they need to check that the company has the relevant paperwork to dispose of the waste correctly. Commercial operators cannot use the drop sites."
The strike is over a dispute regarding pay and working conditions of bin lorry drivers in Coventry, and Unite the Union announced an extra 19 days of strike action last week, which will see industrial action continuing until March unless a resolution can be reached.
A spokesperson from Unite the Union said: "Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite members at Coventry council have been forced to escalate their industrial action due to the council’s total failure to enter into meaningful negotiations.
“Unite is entirely dedicated to protecting the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and will give the workers in Coventry the union’s full support in this dispute with what is supposed to be a Labour council. It should be joining with the union to fight the scourge of poverty pay and ending the need to work excessive hours to make ends meet. Other councils have done just that. How come Coventry is so intransigent?"