Government

Mendip recycling collections may be delayed for another six weeks

Householders in the Somerset district of Mendip could continue to experience delays to their recycling collections, due to an ongoing shortage of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers.

Mendip recycling delays to continueSomerset Waste Partnership (SWP), which manages waste and recycling services for Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset and West Somerset district councils, as well as Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset County Council, has warned that kerbside recycling collections in Mendip could be delayed for a further six weeks ‘or possibly more’ due to driver shortages.

These have reportedly occurred from ‘the recovery from recession and new EU regulations for commercial drivers’, which are ‘limiting the supply while increasing the demand’.

Problem background

Under EU Directive 2003/59/EC, all HGV class C licensed drivers operating good vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (such as those used by Kier, SWP’s waste contractor) under ‘acquired rights’ should have undertaken 35 hours of training before 9 September 2014 to qualify for their Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).  

This qualification needs to be undertaken every five years to ensure drivers are kept up-to-date on safe and fuel-efficient driving, legal requirements, as well as health and safety including first aid and manual handling.

However, it seems that many drivers and businesses were unaware of the 9 September deadline, leading to a ‘national shortage of 82,000 CPC-qualified drivers’. Drivers who had acquired rights and missed the 9 September deadline will not be allowed to drive professionally until the 35 hours of training are completed. Those found driving without a CPC could be fined up to £1,000.

Collection crews to work late and on Saturdays

The worst-affected Somerset district is Mendip, which is served by services company Kier through its Evercreech depot, although there has also been reports of ‘some impact’ in late or delayed collections in other parts of the county. Refuse and, for subscribers, garden waste collections, have largely not been affected.

The Evercreech depot has been particularly hard hit, as, unlike other waste collection centres, it is not near a large town.

To try and limit the impact on householders, Kier will now be transferring drivers from elsewhere in Somerset (and further afield) and having recycling collection crews working late and on Saturdays to catch up.

Residents are being asked to leave uncollected containers out until the end of the afternoon and, if necessary, put containers out by 7am the next day, including Saturdays.

If the collection is not made in two working days, including Saturdays, householders are advised to email their district council customer services with their name, address with postcode, phone, email and details of the issue.

An SWP spokesperson commented: “Our drivers and loaders are all working hard, staying late and coming in on Saturdays to catch up with delayed recycling collections, usually within 24 hours.

“Every resident can help by sorting and segregate recycling in its boxes, putting boxes out on time and ensuring they are easy to find – or not putting out boxes if there is not much to collect as it will speed up all collections.

“And, of course, all dry recycling items collected at the kerbside can be taken to recycling centres. If, as a last resort, food waste must be discarded, double bag it and add it to the refuse bin.”

Kier offering free CPC training to drivers

As a long-term solution, Kier has said that it will offer all classes of heavy vehicle drivers free CPC training.

Those interested are being asked to call Kier’s recruitment line on 0845 467 5901.

Find out more about the CPC requirement or recycling in the Somerset Waste Partnership.