Hundreds of homes across North Somerset missed rubbish and recycling collections yesterday – because of badly parked cars.
Across the district around 400 collections were missed because trucks could not access streets.
North Somerset Council says it is seeing an increase in the number of cars clogging up streets as people are forced to stay at home during the UK-wide lockdown in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Council bosses are now appealing to people to park sensibly so recycling vehicles can get through.
A council spokesman said: “We had around 400 properties yesterday which we couldn’t collect because of parked cars.
“We are asking residents to park courteously.
“Crews are reporting difficulty in accessing some areas and may not be able to return
“If it is your collection day today please check you’ve left space.”
The council has already taken the step of training up its grounds staff – who look after the area’s parks and open spaces – to support crews on their rounds.
It is also appealing to people to sort recycling and to wash containers to help crews with collections.
And they are advising people not to put tissues or other coronavirus waste into recycling,
Any coronavirus-related waste must be left for 72 hours before placing it in the black bin rubbish.
Council bosses said as well as limiting the spread of the virus, the measures would also help keep recycling and rubbish collection crews safe during the pandemic.
All recycling centres in the district – at Backwell, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare – are currently closed.
The spokesman added "All our vehicles are collecting today but we have less staff than usual so some collections may be later than normal.
“Crews are reporting tissues left in some recycling boxes which is causing concern and might result in boxes being left.
“Volumes of recycling and waste are high, please remind residents to sort out material in recycling boxes and to wash and squash plastic/cans and flatten cardboard.
“This would really assist crews who are working really hard in difficult conditions.”
