Waste collection services in Cardiff disrupted due to strike action

Ted Peskett, local democracy reporter

Waste collection in Cardiff could be disrupted for more than a week due to strike action.

Cardiff Council has confirmed hygiene waste, garden waste and some of its recycling collection services may have to be suspended from September 4 to September 15.

Bessemer Close Recycling Centre will be closed to household users during the period of industrial action, but will remain open to commercial customers.

There are no expected changes to the services at Lamby Way Recycling Centre.

Collections for general waste and food waste are expected to continue as normal.

In a statement, Cardiff Council said: “To ensure the council can continue to collect most of your black bins and black bags, food waste, and recycling, new collection arrangements are being prepared in case they are required during the strike.

“It is also possible other changes may have to be announced during the industrial action due to further unforeseen disruption.

“Because of this, and because the situation could change on a daily basis, we are asking that you please ignore any collection notifications which you have signed up to between Monday, September 4, up to and including Friday, September 15.

“Instead, on the day of your collection, check the collection calendar either on our website here Check my collection dates (cardiff.gov.uk), or via the Cardiff Gov App, or by using Bobi, our chatbot. We will also update our social media channels daily.

“Please share the news with your family, friends and neighbours who live on your street.”

Unite

Industrial action over pay awards is being planned across the UK in September by the Unite Union.

Here is a breakdown of how Cardiff Council services are expected to be affected:

Garden Waste Collections

The council said garden waste collections may have to be cancelled between Monday September 4 and and Friday September 15 to ensure that other services like black bin bag collections are not affected.

Residents are being told that if their garden waste collection is suspended, it will be collected on their next scheduled collection date (two weeks later).

Hygiene Waste Collections

Similarly to garden waste collections, hygiene waste collections may be cancelled until September 15.

The council said hygiene waste which cannot be stored can be put out alongside black bins or black bags on scheduled fortnightly collection day.

Green Bag Recycling Collections

Weekly green bag recycling collections may need to be cancelled for some areas.

Residents are advised to keep recyclables and put them out the following week on the normal day for green bag collections if this happens.

Sack and Glass Caddy Recycling

Recycling collections are expected to remain unchanged for residents living in the areas using sacks and glass caddies.

Recycling Collection at Flats

Collections of recycling from blocks of flats are expected to continue as normal.

Residents’ communal recycling bin will be collected from their collection point.

Bulky Waste Collection

The Council said it is unable to take new bookings to collect bulky waste during the period of industrial action.

Any bookings already made which were to be collected between September 4th and September 15 will be collected.

A number of Cardiff Council meetings have also been postponed due to the ongoing pay dispute.

These meetings include:

Democratic Services Committee meeting, which was due to take place on September 4
Public Protection Sub Committee meeting, which was due to take place on September 6
Planning Committee meeting, which was due to take place on September 7