Bin collections in South Gloucestershire are being hit by a staff shortage because of Covid isolation, summer holidays and national driver issues.
The council is warning residents of delays up to the next day but is urging everyone to continue putting out their waste and sorting their recycling as normal.
It comes after a householder asked on Twitter whether they should bother separating recyclables after seeing staff mixing the contents from each box and bag into the garden waste on the kerbside before tipping it into the lorry.
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South Gloucestershire Council responded to say that because of binmen shortages, some routes were using vehicles with a “split back” loading plastic and cans on one side and paper with card on the other, but that the items were still being recycled properly.
Garden waste collections were disrupted in some areas during the last two weeks of July because of the problems, with priority given to black bins and recycling, but were back to normal from the start of this month.
In an email newsletter to residents on Tuesday, August 10, the local authority said: “We are still experiencing significant delays to waste and recycling collections due to staff shortages at our contractor Suez.
“We are doing all we can to assist Suez and all services are running but collections may take place later than normally or the next day.
“You may also see different vehicles being used to pick up recycling. All recycling collected in this way will still be separated and recycled, so please continue to sort your items in your containers as normal.”
It said all the Sort It recycling centres were open daily from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: “Like many authorities and waste contractors, Suez is currently experiencing staff shortages due to national driver issues, Covid isolation and annual leave.
"We have been supporting Suez to help improve the situation and continue to work with them to identify further measures that can be implemented to help alleviate these pressures.
"We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and encourage residents to report missed collections online here or by calling 01454 868000, the day after your collection is due.”
On Monday (August 9), resident James Patterson tweeted: “Currently watching the bins being collected and they are just putting each box/bag of recycling into the garden waste bin before taking it all to the truck. Should I just stop sorting the recycling?”
The council replied: “Due to staff shortages, we’re using vehicles with a ‘split back’ loading plastic and cans in one side and paper with card in the other on a few routes. Please continue to separate your recycling as normal as this helps our crews and supports recycling in your area.”
On Tuesday, the authority tweeted that it did not complete recycling collections in Kingswood and Hanham, as well as black waste in Kingswood, and asked householders to put out containers by 7am on Wednesday if theirs had been missed.
Last week the council said crews were working later and over the weekend to catch-up on the delays.
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