Why some bins haven't been collected in Southampton

Southampton City Council has apologised for the disruption and said the recent collection chaos has been caused by a change in the way binmen work.

Crews previously operated on a “task and finish system” – meaning they could go home once their bin rounds were done.

But following talks with industry unions, the arrangement came to an end on January 29 resulting in delays to bin collections.

Tim Perredd, 82, said his bin was full of medical waste used to treat his wife at their home in Harlyn Road, Millbrook.

He said: "It’s been three weeks since the binmen last came around to our road.

"The council wait until your bin is full to the brim then say they can’t empty it when the lid isn’t full shut.

"We complain about the price of the heating bill – the council tax is far dearer and we can’t even get a bin emptied."

Bins in Shirley have also been left uncollected (Image: Newsquest)

Bins line the street in Millbrook waiting to be collected (Image: NQ)

Fellow Millbrook resident, Steve Plumridge, 58, said: “I have lived in Millbrook for 20 years – it has never been this bad before.

“This is a situation that the council could resolved quickly – without action it has a knock-on effect as rubbish gets blown out the full bins and ends up on the street.

“It's looking like a very bad situation – the council need to do something, it is getting beyond ridiculous.”

READ MORE: Southampton City Council apologises for bin collection chaos

Ward councillor Jeremy Moulton said he's received complaints of unemptied bins from residents in Millbrook.

He said: “I have had complaints across Millbrook from people who haven't had their bins collected.

“The service appears to be in chaos and Labour need to get an urgent grip on things. People are really fed up.

“Roadworks are making things difficult for drivers, the streetlights have been switched off at night, the grass isn't cut properly and now, the bins aren't being collected.”

Litter has spilled out of the unemptied bins in Shirley (Image: Newsquest)

In response to residents' complaints, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: "Our waste collection teams have previously operated a ‘task and finish’ system.

"This prioritised speed and early completion by allowing crews to leave work early once their tasks were completed.

"An agreement was reached with Unison and the Unite the Union that the ‘task and finish’ system would end on 29 January.

"This helps safeguard operatives’ welfare and allows us to trial new solutions as we prepare for collecting food waste and a wider range of waste products in future.

"We recognise the impact that these changes are having on our residents, and we thank them for their patience as these new ways of working are implemented."