Move to clear Shropshire waste backlog

Emergency recycling collections were due to continue in parts of Shropshire today as council bosses continue to battle a build up of rubbish following the Arctic weather conditions which hit the county.

Telford & Wrekin Council said workers would be out in its part of the county after treacherous ice and snow made it dangerous for them to collect safely, while there was also a backlog due to Christmas.

The authority said grey bin collections were up to date but recycling collections would take place today as it continues to "catch up" on them.

It said all collections would be up to date by Monday. Veolia Environmental Services, which covers the Shropshire Council area of the county, said its collections were back to normal.

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, cabinet member for environment and rural area with Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "We are confident that all recycling collections will be up to date by Monday and we would like to thank residents for their patience as we catch up.

"We announced earlier this week that our contractor has put on an extra 10 cleaning vehicles and crews to help catch up with recycling collections.

"If anyone's scheduled rubbish or recycling collection is missed, they should report this by calling (01952) 384384 or via www.telford.gov.uk"

Council chiefs say residents should separate cardboard and other recyclables as they may be collected separately and that green waste collections should begin again next week. The recycling centres at Granville, Halesfield, Ketley and Newport are open as normal.

Cat Slaytor, a spokeswoman for Veolia Environmental Services, said bin collections in the Shropshire Council area were back to normal. She said: "We suffered over the Christmas periods with the bad weather which put us behind with collections.

"But we are now fully up to date with mostly all areas with only a few outlying rural areas not visited.

"These include places like Craven Arms which have been exposed to the brunt of the weather."