Thousands need a new bin day as wheelie bins fail to be collected during snowy weather

Thousands of people across Sunderland have been told that their bins won't be emptied at all following disruption to collections this week as a result of cold weather conditions.

Local Lib Dem councillors in Sunderland are urging City Council bosses to urgently sort a replacement bin collection for thousands of people who have been told they will have to wait another 2 weeks until their bins are collected.

Icy conditions across the city caused disruption to refuse collections this week. Anyone whose bin is emptied on a Tuesday or Wednesday will get a replacement collection this weekend or on Monday - but thousands of residents who didn't get their bin emptied as usual on Thursday or Friday won't be getting a replacement collection.

Those residents are being told they will have to wait another two weeks until their next scheduled collection, being forced to try and fit four weeks' worth or rubbish or recycling into their bin.

Commenting Lib Dem councillor for Doxford and Tunstall Heather Fagan said:

"Our local refuse collection staff do a brilliant job and have had a hard time of it this week in the snow and ice - but the Leader of the Council needs to take responsibility for how this has been handled and urgently get a replacement collection sorted out.

"Large parts of the city where bins are collected on Thursdays and Fridays have been left without a bin collection at all and aren't getting a replacement. It is totally unacceptable.

"Residents are now having to cope with dealing with 4 weeks' worth of rubbish or recycling piling up, and there are fears about bins being left out leading to an increase in litter blowing around the streets, attracting rats and wheelie bins being stolen, vandalised or set on fire. Our communities deserve better than this."