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Swindon bins not emptied for weeks say some residents

BBC A row of bins in a bin store full with full bin bags balanced on topBBC
Bins in some places in Swindon have reportedly not been collected since November

Some general waste bins in Swindon have not been emptied for weeks, leading to rubbish overflowing.

Bin bags have been stacking up with one resident saying their neighbours have started using garages and back gardens.

Waste collection changes were introduced by Swindon Borough Council on 27 November and the first four weeks had a 99% collection rate.

The council said missed collections will be sorted over the next few weeks and "lessons will be learnt".

Swindon resident Kris Horwood told the BBC that the bins along his road have not been picked up since November.

'Animals opening bags'

"The bins are all overflowing now. There's probably about four or five bundles of bins and bin bags in my cul-de-sac where it's accumulated over the time," he said.

Mr Horwood said there is now the additional issue of animals breaking into the bags.

"My ring [doorbell] camera is picking up foxes and cats which have been ripping the bags open. It's just awful," he added.

A bin store area on a housing estate showing the wheelie bins full and the bags stacked on top and around
Residents in some areas are having to stack up bin bags as they wait for collections

Mr Horwood said himself and others along the road have been reporting the missed collections to the online portal - he has even been to visit the council offices - but without success.

Swindon Borough Council brought in a new waste and recycling service in late November due to a legal requirement for food waste to be collected in the town, replacing its ageing bin lorries in the process.

Councillor Chris Watts, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, said: "The Christmas week was expected to be a challenge with the loss of two working days, but plans were put in place to combat this.

"The amount of cardboard being collected, although expected to increase, was considerably higher than predicted."

It made collections more difficult as trucks had to return to the depot more frequently.

A row of overflowing bins along a Swindon road with cars and homes, rubbish going into the road
Many people have reported their general waste bins not being picked up on social media

Mr Watts explained there has been a "significant" effect for those who would have had collections over Christmas.

"The teams are currently working on a recovery plan that will see additional vehicles and wagons out to support the crews," he added.

The council said if a Boxing Day collection has not happened by 5 January, then it will be collected on 9 January.

Mr Watts thanked Swindon residents and apologised "for the inconvenience caused by the delays."

He said it will take several weeks to fully catch up.

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