Cabinet members approved the funding on Tuesday (27 May 2025), £1.8 million of which will go towards the recruitment of extra staff to create six additional collections crews in an effort to reduce missed collections.
It will also go towards technological upgrades for its waste collection fleet and further staff training.
Councillor James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and transport, said: “We know it’s frustrating for residents when their bin collections are disrupted, and this proposed investment recognises that we can’t return to the level of disruption we saw earlier this year.
“We also need to remain absolutely focused and committed to health and safety. It’s absolutely heart breaking that elsewhere in the country people have lost their lives working in waste and recycling. We won’t be complacent or risk the welfare of our employees or the public.
“I’m delighted to support this investment which will help make sure our staff remain safe at work while also making sure residents receive the waste collection service they expect and deserve.”
£500,000 of the financing will go towards removing barriers to recycling such as charges for replacement bins.
The council had previously approved a £31 charge for replacement recycling bins, but brown and blue replacement wheelie bins will now be given for free.
What caused the missed collections?
The council said that poor weather caused significant disruptions to its waste and recycling collections at the start of the year.
It claimed that services changes meant catching up took “much longer” than it had hoped.
The council caught up on missed collections by April by bringing in additional agency crews and by delaying the spring restart of its green bin collections but is hoping to bring in long term solutions.
Be Safe, Work Safe, Target Zero initiative
The service changes formed part of its Be Safe, Work Safe, Target Zero initiative which was developed in response to coroner’s recommendations following the death of a waste operative in another part of the country.
Barnsley’s waste vehicles have been involved in over 70 collisions in the last three years.
The initiative specifically targets bringing waste vehicle collisions down to zero in order to keep staff and the public safe.
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