CBC News – Garden Waste
The national shortage of HGV drivers continues to affect businesses across the country and is impacting a large number of councils’ ability to maintain their usual household waste collections.
National vacancy rates for driving roles are currently at an average of 15 per cent and a recent survey by the Road Haulage Association estimated that there is a shortage of more than 100,000 drivers in the UK, with 30 per cent of HGV driver vacancies taking over eight weeks to fill.
FCC, CBC’s waste contractor, are making every effort to bolster the crews. This includes embarking on a significant local recruitment campaign, which the council have also been promoting including advertising panels on the sides of their collection vehicles.
In the meantime, CBC are continuing to support FCC in any way they can to fill vacancies and will provide updates as soon as they are in a position to resume garden waste collections. Residents can book slots to visit a tidy tip here: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/2/waste_and_recycling/612/household_waste_recycling_centres_tidy_tips.
Residents must:
- Book before coming to the tidy tip.
- Show proof of your booking when you arrive at the site.
CBC open new slots on a daily basis, seven days in advance. For example, that means at 00:01 (one minute after midnight) on Wednesday, 18 August you can book for Wednesday, 25 August. If a date shows as available, you can book a slot for that day.
If a date shows as not available, it means that either:
- All slots are booked for that day.
- Slots aren’t opened for that date yet ie it is longer than seven days’ time.
The last bookable slot will be at 4.40pm each day. If booking the last slot of the day, you must leave by 5pm. Anyone who has not booked a slot, will not have access to the site.
Residents should only visit during their allocated time slot and not turn up early, especially before tip is open, as staff will require access to allow the site to open.
The booking system is not intended to be a permanent arrangement, and CBC are currently working towards a time when the online booking will no longer be required. Once the online booking system has been removed, they’ll let residents know through the bulletin and via their regular public communication channels.