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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Wesley Holmes

Wirral Council begs people to stop reporting overflowing bins amid Biffa strikes

Wirral Council has advised people "there is no need to report" uncollected bins after mass strikes led to "bags piling up in streets".

More than 200 Biffa employees on the outsourced Wirral Council contract took action from December 5 to December 10 after their demands for a 15% pay increase were not met, resulting in the cancellation of all bin collections and street cleaning.

A further round of strikes has been announced for December 28 to 30 and January 3 to 6. This coincides with another strike by 180 Veolia staff at the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, who have announced walk-out plans from December 28 to December 31, January 2 to January 7, and January 15 to January 21 2023.

READ MORE: Biffa strikes and icy weather wreak havoc on bin collections

Bin collections were supposed to return to normal this week, but were delayed due to icy weather - resulting in complaints from some Wirral residents, many of which were posted on the council's Facebook page.

Joanne Scott said: "Bromborough bins still not been emptied. Not sure where you think we’re going to keep all our Christmas rubbish if you can’t empty the bins the week before. Not good enough."

Suzy Hesketh said: "I'm supposed to have assistance with my bins, they haven't been emptied since 18th November. I'm really fed up of having to report missed green bins every two weeks.

"Our road was missed Friday (four weeks of rubbish). If they don't come before Christmas I'll have eight weeks of rubbish. Can you tell us this not breaking health and safety in some way?"

But Wirral Council said it had "limited options to reduce the impact on services", as the striking workers are on a contract, and so are not employed directly by the authority.

A Wirral Council spokesman said: "We hear you and share your frustration over the disruption to bin collections and getting rid of household waste. We must emphasise the planned industrial action is for Biffa and Veolia - along with their employees and union representatives - to resolve. The industrial action is lawful so we have very limited options to reduce the impact on services. Disruption is inevitable while the industrial action continues. We urge all sides to do as much as they can to resolve their disputes at the earliest possibility.

"We are aware that there are still some bins from last week and early this week still due to be emptied. If your whole street was missed, please leave your bins out and Biffa will empty them as soon as possible. There is no need to report this via our website."

They added: "Council tax funds a wide range of council services. An issue such as this, as well as being out of the council's control, does not make residents eligible for a reduction in council tax bills."

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