Bradford Council has asked residents to put their bins out by 5am this week. The decision has been made so that collection crews can begin work earlier and avoid extreme temperatures.
The authority announced that collections will start an hour earlier than usual throughout the week, as forecasts predict temperatures as high as 36°C across the district.
According to the council, the temporary change is intended to protect bin crews from the risks associated with working in intense heat. In a statement, the council said: “Due to the forecast of high to extreme temperatures, our bin crews will be starting collections an hour earlier from 5 am all this week.
“Working in extreme heat is physically more demanding, so starting when the temperatures are cooler will help reduce the risk of crews experiencing heat-related health issues.”
The council highlighted the physical demands of the role, noting that refuse workers can walk up to 12 miles and move around 20 tonnes of rubbish each day. “Did you know they walk up to 12 miles and move around 20 tonnes of rubbish each day?” he added.
The statement added: “We are asking residents to please put bins out by 5am and make sure vehicles aren’t blocking access for the wagons.
“Please be the ‘binfluencer’ on your street and put your bin out early.”
This move comes as the UK is currently experiencing sweltering temperatures, with heatwaves breaking records in many parts of the country.The UK woke up to soaring temperatures, with parts of the country expected to experience one of the hottest days of June on record. Therefore, the earlier start times are expected to remain in place throughout the current period of hot weather.
