Missed bin collections spark rat complaints

Missed bin collections have led to complaints of rats, flies and foul smells in Coventry’s streets.

Some people complained they hadn’t had some of their bins collected for four weeks, leaving bins "overflowing".

Coventry City Council blamed problems on foreseen issues such as booked staff holidays and levels of summer garden waste, alongside “a higher than usual” level of staff sickness.

In a letter to the Coventry Telegraph, one resident, Gill Dawkins, said her brown bin hadn't been emptied for nearly a month before it was eventually collected on Friday (August 16).

She said: “The streets are a sea of bins everywhere and minging. Rats have been seen.

“Everyone has to pay extortionate council tax every month – they need to take the money for bin collections off the bill, it is an utter farce. 

“What with litter everywhere stuff dumped outside of peoples houses, bins overflowing. It is disgraceful.”

Missed collections only affected “pockets across the city” and were mainly related to recycling, the council said.

The authority added that extra Saturday crews had now helped them catch up fully on the service.

A spokesman urged residents not to put food waste in recycling bins following complaints of vermin, but said a rise in rats is expected in the summer.

She added: “Although rat populations do fluctuate, the mild winter and warm summer weather has led to a longer breeding season and therefore more rats.

“This is an issue across the country and Coventry is no different.”

Watch: What to do if your bins aren't collected?

All collections last week were completed without the need for weekend working. 

A council spokesman added: “We have been facing a number of issues in recent weeks including managing summer leave for our crews, a higher than usual level of sickness and the weather which has meant high levels of garden waste.

“For the past couple of weeks we have had to return to finish some recycling rounds and where needed we have put on extra crews to finish off on a Saturday.

“Things are improving though, and last week we completed all rounds without the need for weekend working.

“As we would usually do at this time of year we have also had additional staff in place over the holiday period.

“We collect about 15,000 blue lidded bins a day and the majority of problems have related to recycling collections.

“Recycling bins should not contain food waste so there should not be any link between collections and rats.

“We know how important bin collections are and we thank people for their patience.”

  

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