As the Island basks in the hottest weather so far this year, Islanders are being asked to spare a thought for the hard-working bin men and waste workers at Lynnbottom, Afton Marsh and Forest Park who continue to soldier on through the heat.
Being responsible for the Island’s sanitation definitely comes at a cost. Bin collectors are exposed to physically intensive lifting as well as unbearable smells when a heatwave happens.
Amey, the council’s waste contractor, is making sure there are plenty of chilled water bottles and even ice lollies on hand to keep their teams as cool as possible through the extreme heat.
However, with temperatures soaring to 34c in some parts of the Island this week, the Council is asked that local residents are understanding if waste collections are delayed as crews pace themselves and take the time they need to stay hydrated.
Natasha Dix, the council’s strategic manager for contracts, waste and environment, said:
“Collecting residents’ waste and recycling is a physically demanding job — and even more so in heatwave conditions.
“As a responsible employer, Amey are supporting its staff through these challenging conditions and we hope that residents will understand, as I’m sure they do, if their bins are collected a little later than usual given the circumstances.
“We are immensely proud of the professionalism and commitment demonstrated by our staff throughout the heatwave and wish to thank them publicly for the work they do help keep our beautiful Island tidy.”
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They look like a happy bunch!
One thought has been spared here.
They dont lift the bins anymore,the lorry does it, they don’t even take your bins half the time and certainly wont walk far to get them like they used too..
What a miserable git you are!
I agree they are not bin men they are lazy sods back in the day bin men used to walk up the garden path to collect bins and they used to spill rubbish on the ground they used to clean it un like today
While I don’t envy them having to do that job in a heatwave, they are certainly not like they used to be. So many times the small green bins for the kitchen waste have been broken, their lids broken off the hinges. When I called to complain, I was told well it’s the big gloves they have to wear. Also so many bins have just gone astray, black inserts missing, kitchen bin completely vanished a few weeks back, and they often leave the large bins somewhere else so gets taken by someone else in the street, despite having the number on the inside lid.
Yes – quite agree, thank you, all of you – you have my admiration.
What about those who cut grass, hedges etc, a physical job and with protective equipment on very hot work. Those fellows are under rated I suggest
Whilst in the daily line of traffic today, my wife and myself watched as the guys alone St George’s Road works sweating like mad in this heat we’re putting tarmac down.
Now that looked bloody hot work
The two guys who collect from Gurnard Preschool are fantastic. They take everything and never complain. We also give them treats of biscuits and cakes as a thank you. Well done guys we would be stuck without you.