Bin collectors on Anglesey verbally abused and assaulted during lockdown, council reveals

Refuse collectors have been verbally abused and even assaulted while emptying residents’ bins during lockdown, it has been revealed.

In one incident a householder threw a recycling box at crew after they refused to take away one of the containers, which clearly had used tissues inside, away, members of Anglesey Council’s Executive heard.

This was despite repeated warnings that used tissues should not be stored in the recycled paper box but disposed of as general waste.

Cllr Bob Parry, the portfolio holder for Highways, Property and Waste Management, told Monday’s virtual meeting that some staff working for the council’s waste contractor, Biffa, had suffered some “very difficult experiences” over recent months.

“People, in one area, threw their recycling box at a crew as they were not taking it away as it contained tissues, despite a clear warning that tissues were to be put in bin liners and taken away with the general waste,” he said.

Cllr Parry added there had been “another three serious incidents” which the police had been made aware of, but stressed that the vast majority of residents had been supportive.

He went on to thank the department’s staff for their efforts in re-opening the Penhesgyn recycling centre earlier this month.

Concerns had been raised over an increase in fly-tipping during the closure of the island’s two recycling centres, with staff also having to respond to reports of  illegal bonfires and nuisance noise complaints during a time when resources should be focussed on responding to the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to Cllr Parry, reports of fly-tipping went up by approximately 10% since the closure of both centres in mid March.

But having deliberately taken a cautious approach, noting the problems faced in some other counties which saw long queues on their first day of opening, an initial 100 slots a day were opened up for pre-bookings at Penhesgyn via phone or the council’s app or website.

Now, following the success of the first week, the quota had now doubled, with Cllr Parry thanking both the public and staff for their discipline in maintaining the pre-booking system.

“People have been very good in not turning up without booking a place beforehand, and I’d like to thank them for that,” added Cllr Parry.

“In regards to the Gwalchmai recycling centre, we are looking at the possibility of opening it up slowly.

“The issue there is its proximity to the A5 which means there’s only room for six cars to queue up at a time and the police have had concerns.

“The likelihood is that we open it before the end of the month, but with only 45 available slots per day.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter