Staff self-isolating, along with a lack of HGV drivers who can drive bin lorries, has led to bin collection services being hit across the UK, the BBC reported.
The councils experiencing delays to collections include Derby City, Manchester City, Milton Keynes, South Gloucestershire, South Holland District, North Norfolk District, Cambridge County, South Cambridgeshire County, Rossendale Borough, Peterborough City, Torbay, Teignbridge District, North Devon, Stoke on Trent City, South Ribble, Dartford, Dundee City and Basingstoke and Deane Borough.
Some councils are also delaying recycling collections in order to prioritise general waste.
Three councils in Devon have written to the Home Secretary to request the Government grant temporary visas to trained European HGV drivers in order to help with the shortage of drivers.
"North Devon Council are attempting to fill seven (bin lorry driver) vacancies, Torbay Council eight vacancies and Teignbridge Council ten vacancies," wrote councillors Steve Darling, David Worden and Alistair Dewhirst.
"This equates to approximately 20% of the HGV workforce in driver vacancies and it is proving very challenging to fill this resourcing gap given the dynamics of this labour market.
"With our efforts to 'grow our own' HGV drivers, we need their DVLA applications to be fast tracked, as for example in Teignbridge, there are five (bin lorry driver) applications in the system which if fast tracked could help partially tackle the challenges we face."
Haulage firms are offering sign-on bonuses and pay rises, but councils say this is affecting them and their waste management partners.
Waste management company Biffa's HR director Jane Pateman said: "We are working hard to recruit new drivers, offering great rates of pay alongside fantastic benefits, as well as full training."
In August, waste management firm Veolia launched a campaign encouraging mothers to consider a new career in driving for the company.
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