Bedford Borough is set to experience another exceptionally hot day, with temperatures expected to reach well into the 30°C range. Following yesterday’s peak of 35°C in south‑east England, forecasters have warned that conditions today may be even hotter.
To protect frontline crews working in these challenging conditions, waste, food and recycling collections are currently starting earlier than usual.
During periods of extreme heat, start times are brought forward so that crews can complete as much work as possible before the hottest part of the day. Collecting heavy bins and loading vehicles while wearing protective equipment is physically demanding, and earlier start times help reduce the risk of heat‑related illness.
Every effort is made to complete all scheduled rounds each day. However, unforeseen issues such as vehicle breakdowns or unexpected staff shortages can mean that a round cannot be finished. If this happens, residents on the affected round will have their bin collected the following day and are asked to leave their bin out in its usual collection point overnight so crews can catch up as soon as possible.
Residents can help by:
- Placing bins in their usual collection point the night before. This reduces the chance of a bin being missed if crews pass earlier than usual.
- Tightly tying food waste bags and keeping lids closed securely with the handle up helps keep collections hygienic and reduces the risk of spills. With weekly food waste collections, food waste now sits in outdoor bins for less time, helping to minimise smells and improve hygiene in hot weather.
- Parking carefully, badly parked vehicles can slow or block collections. Leaving enough space for a large vehicle to pass helps keep services running smoothly.
- Crews are delivering an essential public service in difficult conditions. Courteous, patient behaviour makes a real difference to staff who are working hard to complete rounds safely and on time.
Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said, “Heatwave conditions make what is already a physically tough job even more demanding for our waste, food and recycling crews. We know how important reliable collections are for residents, and bringing start times forward is one of the ways we can keep services going while protecting staff welfare.
“We would like to thank our collection crews for the hard work they do to keep our Borough clean and tidy, and we would also like to thank residents for their patience, understanding and support during this period of extreme heat.
“All our key workers – cleansing, highways, grounds teams and many others – do vital work to keep Bedford Borough safe, clean and well‑maintained, and they all deserve our thanks and appreciation.”