Parks staff in North Somerset are to be re-trained as binmen in a bid to ensure recycling and rubbish collections continue amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Staff working for council contractors Glendale – normally tasked with jobs including grass cutting and grounds maintenance at open spaces across the district – are being given training to become part of refuse and recycling crews.
It is understood the first tranche of training has already taken place with more planned.
The move comes as the authority looks to redeploy staff to ensure front line services are maintained during the outbreak if workers fall ill or have to self isolate.
Currently recycling collections across the district take place weekly with black bin rubbish being collected fortnightly.
Recycling and rubbish collections are currently continuing as normal, with council bosses warning the service could face some disruption as the coronavirus crisis deepens.
The authority’s three recycling centres at Portishead, Backwell and Weston-super-Mare also remain open at the current time, but this could change.
Other staff are also being deployed from their usual departments to ensure critical front line services are maintained.
A council spokesman said: “We have plans in place to make sure critical front line services keep running as the coronavirus epidemic develops.
"These include identifying and training staff for possible redeployment into essential services, and looking at service changes that could be made in the coming weeks.”
“Any changes will be advertised on our website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus.”
