UK heatwave: Millions to see bin collection times change due to extreme weather

Millions of people in England and Wales could see a change in their usual bin collection time as a result of this week’s searing heatwave.

Collection crews have been instructed by councils to start their shifts earlier to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun at the hottest time of day.

The government has warned that the heatwave is straining the NHS to a degree not usually seen outside of winter months, and the UK Health Security Agency has issued an extreme heat warning in England this week.

Officials have not ruled out declaring the UK’s first-ever national heatwave emergency, with forecasters warning that the extreme temperatures could have adverse health effects even for those not typically considered at risk during hot weather.

Many councils in the south, and some futher north, are taking action to protect waste collection staff whose work could place them at risk.

Some residents are being advised to put their bins out either the night before or prior to 6am to ensure they do not fall foul of the revised collection times.

But in other areas – including those where staff are being given a choice over whether to take earlier shifts – councils have said they do not foresee any noticeable change for residents.

In Brighton and Hove employees who typically start at 7am are being given the option to start an hour or two earlier, and the council said it was not expecting residents to notice.

Other councils, including in Greenwich and South Oxfordshire, warned that residents could face delays due to the extreme weather – with the latter saying on Monday that crews would likely “stop early” and would “aim to catch up”. They advised people to leave their bins out for a further two days if their collection is missed.

The Met Office believes there is a one in five chance the UK will record its highest ever temperature during the heatwave.

Putting in place a “danger to life” warning across most of England and eastern Wales between Saturday at midnight and the same time on Tuesday, the national forecaster warned that the heat will have a widespread impact on people and infrastructure.

It is likely that “substantial changes in working practices and daily routines” will be required, the Met Office warned, telling the country to brace for delays, closures and cancellations for those travelling by road, rail and air over the weekend as a result of the heat.

Ministers were on Wednesday urged to call their second emergency Cobra meeting in response to the heatwave in the space of three days, which Lib Dem health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said was necessary “to protect patients and paramedics who are really operating at the brink”.

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The Independent has compiled the following list of councils warning of possible disruption to their bin collection services due to the heatwave.

Others are also likely to be operating an altered service, so readers are advised to check their local authority’s website or social media channels for further details: