Sheffield binmen investigated for swearing at residents in wheelie bin dispute
Donna Fry and Ken Gill say recycling bins, pictured, are not big enough to make up for the reduction in black bin collections to fortnightly.
BINMEN are being investigated over claims they swore at residents in a row about over-filled wheelie bins.
Crews from Sheffield Council contractor Veolia left black bins unemptied in Woodthorpe and put stickers on them telling residents lids must close.
Householders on Hastilar Crescent went out to challenge the binmen, asking ‘what are we supposed to do now?’ and claim they were told ‘tough s***’.
Veolia is investigating the claims as a ‘serious report of improper conduct’.
People living on the street are urging other residents not to be caught out in the same way.
Veolia was operating an amnesty on over-filled bins but the policy has ended.
After fortnightly black bin collections were introduced last summer, households were allowed to put out bins with lids up and extra bag of rubbish.
Hastilar Crescent resident Donna Fry, who lives with son Ken Gill, among residents affected, said: “We went out and spoke to the binmen, offering to remove a few bags so the lids would close but they refused.
“We asked them ‘what are we supposed to do now’, and they just replied ‘tough s***’ and drove off.
“We are still struggling to get used to the new system and the crackdown on over-filled bins happened without any notice.
“It’s not just our street that was affected – other residents in Woodthorpe also had their bins left uncollected – and people need to be aware their bin lids need to close or they won’t be emptied.
“We are trying to get used to the new system by recycling more but our blue bin and box are too small to fit everything in.”
Veolia says households need to take steps to increase recycling and ensure black bin lids close – or they will not be emptied for health and safety reasons.
The company has sent a crew out to empty the bins on Hastilar Crescent after residents’ complaints.
A Veolia spokeswoman said: “Where a bin is overfilled it will be emptied on the first occasion where safe to do so and an advisory sticker is left on the container.
“On the second occasion the bin is not emptied but tagged to inform the resident as to the reason why.
“On this occasion our refuse collector did not adhere to the correct procedure. However as soon as the problem was brought to our attention we sent a collection crew to empty these bins the same day. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience.”
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 23 May 2013
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Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
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