Wales
In Wales yesterday, Hawarden in Flintshire saw the highest temperature ever in Wales at 37.1C and and the local authority announced during the day that crews had been stood down.
In a statement, Flintshire county council said: “As temperatures continue to soar we have stood down our waste and recycling crews for today (18/7/22). Some black bin and recycling waste rounds will be affected. All garden waste collections have been completed.”
England
In England, the hottest place on Monday (19 July) was Santon Downham near Newmarket, Suffolk in the West Suffolk district council area.
The local authority advised residents that “Due to the extreme heat forecast for Monday and Tuesday, we are asking that residents who have bin collections on those days to please put your bins out by 6am. This is to ensure the safety of our collection crews who will start their routes earlier to avoid the heat.”
Mixed reactions
Reports from across the country about reactions to early collection crew starts have been mixed. In Leeds crews were said to have been given drinks by local residents in almost a return to “the support seen during the Covid pandemic.”
In other areas, such as Somerset, there were reports on ITV news that residents were angry about early collections.
Indoors
Waste management companies are also aware of the heat challenge facing workers in buildings such as materials recycling facilities.
A spokesman for Beauparc said that the company health and safety officer had issued advice across the company last week and that bottled water was being distributed to all workers. “From a welfare perspective we are trying to ensure that proper hydration levels are maintained,” a spokesman said.
He added: “We are also operating a carousel style working system where possible to allow workers time outside and to have increased breaks.”
Ice creams
With temperatures set to be very high in London, waste management companies are finding ways to both boost morale and keep staff cool.
At Powerday’s depot in Willesden, the company hired an ice cream van for its staff as temperatures topped 36 °C.
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