In this section
We will always do our best to continue with waste and recycling collections during poor weather conditions. However occasionally we will have to take the difficult decision to suspend collections.
Our decisions to delay bin collections are never taken lightly. The safety of our staff, pedestrians and other road users must be considered. Icy and snowy conditions makes driving our waste collection lorries hazardous, particularly on narrow streets. Moving the bins over snow and ice can also be dangerous. Other factors such as time of day, duration of snow fall, temperature and whether roads have been gritted can all cause a delay to waste collection service.
For up-to-date information, please keep an eye on our website, Facebook and Twitter.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What to do if your bin hasn't been collected due to adverse weather
- Other vehicles seem to be getting around - why can't you?
- How do you decide when it's safe to resume collecting waste and recycling?
- During adverse weather conditions can smaller vehicles be used in areas where the trucks can't?
- Are you going to grit the roads?
- Will you be doing extra collections to catch up when the weather improves?
- How long will it take for collections to return to normal?
- How do I speak to someone about this?
- Why are other councils running a collection service for waste and you're not?
- Why are you not collecting the waste the day after the missed collection?
- Will you take extra waste on the next collection?
What to do if your bin hasn't been collected due to adverse weather
Leave the bin at the boundary of your property and we will try to collect it as soon as possible.
Other vehicles seem to be getting around - why can't you?
Our large refuse lorries can weigh up to 26 tonnes. Small side roads, which are not routinely cleared of snow, can become very icy. It would be dangerous for our refuse lorries to drive down these roads.
Footpaths can also remain treacherous even when main roads have been cleared. Our staff need to move wheeled bins, and may be unable to stop themselves falling if they slipped. This could potentially cause serious injury.
How do you decide when it's safe to resume collecting waste and recycling?
We regularly review road conditions and take advice from both the police and Met Office. We resume collections as soon as it is safe to do so.
During adverse weather conditions can smaller vehicles be used in areas where the trucks can't?
We have one fleet of vehicles for waste and recycling collections. These heavy goods vehicles have the equipment to lift and empty bins; smaller vehicles wouldn’t have the necessary equipment to carry out collections safely.
Are you going to grit the roads?
Road gritting is the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council. They are the highway authority and are responsible for all highway safety issues. You can find out more about the service they provide on the Hertfordshire County Council website.
However, our street care teams will be clearing snow and gritting pavements in high priority areas, where possible, across the borough.
Will you be doing extra collections to catch up when the weather improves?
When it’s safe to do so, we’ll resume collections in your area. We’ll do all we can to get collections back on schedule as quickly as possible - please be patient with us.
How long will it take for collections to return to normal?
It depends on how severe the weather is, and how long it lasts. We’ll be posting updates on our waste and recycling page, Facebook and Twitter pages.
How do I speak to someone about this?
Please call the contact centre at Veolia Watford 0203 567 6900 or email enquiries.watford@veolia.co.uk.
Why are other councils running a collection service for waste and you're not?
Every council assesses the situation and makes a judgement call based on conditions locally. In Watford we have narrow roads and densely parked cars making it hard for our waste vehicles to navigate safely. Our decision to delay bin collections are never taken lightly. The safety of our staff, pedestrians and other road users must be considered.
Why are you not collecting the waste the day after the missed collection?
We will monitor this on a day by day basis to review the situation and make a judgement call on the day after any missed collections. We try to keep to the regular collection schedule to minimise disruption to other areas of Watford.
Will you take extra waste on the next collection?
We will always take extra recycling provided it contains recyclable items. Please clearly label the bag and leave it next to your blue-lidded bin.
We do not take extra waste for all other bins such as your brown (food waste) bin, black (non-recyclable waste) bin and green (garden waste) bin, for advice for this, please check our excess waste information.
