Food waste collections missed in parts of Northampton as Borough Council hit by staff shortages

A number of residents in the east of Northampton will miss out on having their food waste collected as normal today (Tuesday April 14).

Northampton Borough Council blamed temporary staff shortages for the missed collections covering an area from Boothville to Billing and advised residents to take their waste food caddies back indoors until next week's collection.

No information has been made available regarding the cause of the staff shortages or if further collections in other areas will also be affected this week.

A council statement said: "Due to a temporary reduction in staff, food waste in Birds Hill Road, Hayeswood Road, Bellinge, Little Billing, St Gregory's Road, Boothville, Manning Road and all surrounding streets and cul-de-sacs will not be collected until your next collection on Tuesday April 21.

"If your collection is missed, please take your food caddy back in and present it again next week. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you for your understanding."

The Government issued new guidelines to local authorities a week ago on how to prioritise waste collections as stretched councils struggle to keep up with the coronavirus outbreak.

Food waste is considered "high" priority and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs says these collections should be kept up to avoid risks to human health through a build up of rotting waste.

Defra is also encouraging councils to open key household waste recycling centres where social distancing is possible in order to avoid fly-tipping and stop waste piling up.

All of Northamptonshire County Council's recycling centres closed until further notice on 24 March following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement of a lockdown in a bid to slow the spread of the deadly Covid-19 bug.

A Government spokesperson said: "It’s vital that councils prevent household waste from building up.

"Our top priority is protecting public health, and this guidance sets out how councils can ensure services carry on as part of our wider efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

"We recognise that the current pandemic is presenting some serious challenges and therefore appreciate and expect that local authorities will have to make decisions where necessary to change or close services temporarily, bearing in mind their statutory duties."