COTSWOLD District Council is conducting an urgent review of its refuse and recycling services to see if any improvements might be made to limit future disruptions during adverse weather.

The recent snow and ice which battered the Cotswolds had a severe effect on the operation of the Council’s waste service. The timing and duration of the adverse weather was particularly unfortunate, as it spanned the busy Christmas collection period, and resulted in an unprecedented level of disruption and a significant backlog in collections.

Mindful that there may be more wintry weather on the way, Councillor Mark Tufnell, the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Communities, has ordered an urgent review of the Council’s refuse and recycling service. The aim is to identify any lessons that can be learned from recent events with a view to introducing any possible improvements as quickly as possible.

Councillor Tufnell commented: “Our refuse contractors, SITA, were really up against it when the snow and ice set in. Even when roads were deemed passable, there were significant hazards for such large lorries and it was not safe for operatives to carry heavy containers of recycled material, such as glass, on icy footpaths.

"They have worked very hard to get on top of the backlog, and this is an opportune time to take stock of events to see if we can make any improvements before the weather deteriorates again.

"Any recommendations arising from the review will be acted on quickly and effectively. In the meantime, we regret any inconvenience that has been caused and thank residents for the patience and understanding that they have shown. I am aware that residents were particularly disappointed when we had to suspend our recycling service for a short while, and I urge them not to lose faith – local efforts to recycle and compost really are having a positive effect on reducing the impact of climate change.”

He continued: “Periods of exceptionally adverse weather, such as the snow and ice we recently experienced, are likely to become more frequent in the future. The Council needs to be ready for this challenge by adapting to the longer term effects of climate change for all its services. This wasn’t just a local problem – there were disruptions to waste collections across the country - but we want to get ahead of the game in the Cotswolds and ensure that we are pulling out all the stops to minimise any future problems.”