Bin Collections During Severe Weather
During Severe Winter Weather we will..
Continue to undertake the regular scheduled collection of household and commercial waste wherever it is deemed safe to do so. The decision on whether it is safe for a refuse collection vehicle to access a specific location/street has to be determined locally by the driver of that vehicle, taking into account the prevailing driving and weather conditions at that time and the physical nature of the area that has to be negotiated.
If the driver decides that it is not safe to access an area, then they will report this to their manager and the Council’s customer service staff to enable them to field any subsequent enquiries. If significant numbers of residents/business are affected then an alert will also be posted onto the Council’s web page to provide information to the affected people.
If underfoot conditions are safe enough to do so, bins will be manually pulled out of side roads to be emptied but may not be returned to their previous position. Alternatively, we will try to return and collect missed bins within 24 hours of the scheduled collection date where possible. Details of arrangements to catch up with collections will be posted on the Council’s web page and communicated to the public through the local media. You may be asked to leave your bins out for collection for the remainder of the week.
During Continuing Severe Weather
If it is not possible to empty your bin due to continuing bad weather conditions, then we will aim to return later during that same week to collect missed bins and if necessary this may include working weekends. If we are still unable to service your bin we will remove excess waste you leave at the side of the bin on the next scheduled collection.
In exceptional adverse weather conditions it may prove necessary to temporarily suspend all refuse collection arrangements in a particular area. The collection of residual waste will then take priority over green waste. We will continue to attempt to empty your recycling boxes. As soon as conditions improve the service will resume.
Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)
If, due to severe weather, the sites have to close for practical or health and safety reasons, then details of the closures will be posted on the Council’s web page as an alert and communicated to contact centre staff. Notices will also be displayed at the sites detailing the closure. Every attempt will be made to ensure that sites re-open as quickly as possible following such a closure.
Self Help
It should be noted that the majority of HWRCs remained open throughout the whole period of extreme bad winter weather last year. Residents that have not received their normal refuse collection service as a result of snow/ice creating access problems for refuse vehicles can, if they wish to do so, take their waste to their nearest HWRC.
If you need to contact us:
please ring 01343 557045 or
Email waste@moray.gov.uk
