Local authorities in the UK failed to complete over 10,000 bin collections per working day in the past year. Issues such as strikes, safety regulations, and even favorable weather conditions were cited as reasons for disappointing taxpayers nationwide.
A total of 2.5 million bin collections were missed in the UK in 2024, marking a significant failure by local councils to provide essential services to the public.
Residents in Yorkshire and the Humber experienced the highest number of missed bin collections, with over 312,000 instances reported, translating to 57 missed collections per 1,000 residents—more than double the rates in the North East of England and Northern Ireland.
The council with the poorest performance was Barnsley in South Yorkshire, which recorded the highest number of missed bin collections in 2024. This led to the council investing £1.8 million in recruiting additional staff to address the issue.
Barnsley authorities attributed the high number of missed collections to various factors such as severe weather conditions, fires at waste transfer facilities, and adjustments made by collection crews to comply with safety protocols. The council also pointed out an increase in garden waste due to warm and wet weather as a contributing factor to the poor performance.
Despite the challenges faced, Barnsley claimed that the service has significantly improved following the investment made earlier this year.
An investigative report revealed that councils under Labour control had a higher rate of missed bin collections compared to those under Conservative or Liberal Democrat control in 2024. This data highlighted the need for councils to prioritize efficient waste collection services.
While some critics expressed concerns about the scale of missed bin collections across the UK, others defended the record of councils, emphasizing the overall high public satisfaction with waste services.
In a breakdown by region, various councils were listed as having the highest number of missed bin collections per head of local population. The data shed light on the areas that struggled the most in providing effective waste collection services in 2024.
Overall, the issue of missed bin collections remains a significant challenge for local authorities across the UK, requiring continued efforts to improve service delivery and meet the expectations of residents.