Will my bins be collected in the snow?
SNOW can bring life to a standstill as hazardous conditions affect travel plans.
As much as we may enjoy a sprinkling of the white stuff, services are often disrupted, and nobody likes to have a load of rubbish adorning the front of their home.
Will my bins be collected in the snow?
Generally, if there is enough snow and ice to make it dangerous for crews to leave the depot, the decision will be made by councils no to do so.
In early March 2023, weather warnings were put in place up and down the country with snow and freezing conditions forecast.
Even if parts of the district are clear, the focus is on the general wellbeing and safety of the refuse collection employees.
With many parts of the country experiencing snow, there is potential that services will be suspended during the wintry weather.
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While checking the website of your local council is a good way to see if this is the case in your area, more often than not, the best way to get real-time updates is to check their Twitter and Facebook pages for information.
When will my bins be collected?
As bin lorries can weigh up to 26 tonnes, they are quite dangerous to have out on the road in icy conditions, even more so if snow has settled.
Often, it can lead to black ice which then makes roads in certain areas extremely hazardous.
Councils have to consider not only the safety of the staff involved but pedestrians and other road users too.
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Many councils will add in an extra date in order to catch up on bin collections, but some may have to wait for the next scheduled date.
The Met Office forecasts and police advice will be taken to see when normal services can be resumed.
Should I leave my bins out in the snow?
As much as it is hazardous for bin crews to go out in the snow and ice, the same applies to you.
While there are things you can do to assist their job when services resume, it is important that you do not put yourself in danger of slips and falls as the NHS will also be stretched in such conditions.
No harm is going to come from your bins being left where they are in hazardous weather.
When it is safe to do so, there are measures you can take to help refuse collectors when they are able to get back to their rounds.
Ensuring that cars are parked in such a way that it allows refuse lorries to manoeuvre in your street is always helpful.
Keeping bin lids closed will prevent snow and rain from getting into them, which can cause the contents to freeze.
Also, checking that bins lids can be opened is useful as if they cannot, they will not be emptied.
Try to protect open containers from filling with snow and ice is recommended as this will prevent them from being emptied also.
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A general rule to consider is that while refuse crews will shake the bins several times to try and release contents, there is only so much time they have for this or they will never complete their rounds.
If conditions improve with you, it may be viable for you to visit the Household Waste and Recycling Centre to dispose of excess waste.