High winds threaten bin collections (From Warrington Guardian)

High winds threaten bin collections

COUNCIL officers have issued a warning as high winds threaten bin collection today, Friday.

High winds have been causing major problems for the council's waste collection and disposal service.

The weather conditions have made it very difficult for vehicles to safely off load at landfill sites without causing wind to blow litter.

Despite the difficulties, the waste disposal team and their contractors have been working hard behind the scenes to continue to use the sites and to provide tipping facilities, which has also been compounded by the extra waste collected over the busy Christmas and New Year period.

Although high winds are expected to last for the next few days, through to Monday, the council is urging householders to put out their waste out as shown on the New Year calendar date sticker on their bins.

However, if high winds continue, there may be some unavoidable delays in collections later today (Friday), Saturday and Monday.

The council is aiming to keep the borough's three recycling and household waste sites open, however, they may also be affected during the same period if the skips cannot be emptied to landfill.

Andrew Gilbert, assistant director for environment, said: "We are grateful for our contractor's efforts to keep the landfill and household recycling and waste sites operating in difficult circumstances, but we cannot promise to continue this if the winds worsen."

Alan Fitzpatrick, waste services manager for neighbourhood services, added: "We hope to continue to provide a full service as normal, but if we are forced to suspend the service, it will be for the shortest possible period and we will inform residents as practically as possible at that time."