Reigate & Banstead borough council has ceased collecting green waste from households in canvas sacks, as it claims that they could pose a safety risk to collection crews.
Opt-in collections of garden waste in either canvas bags or 240-litre brown wheeled bins are carried out by the local authority once a fortnight for an annual subscription fee. The sacks are made of ‘hessian-type’ fabric, square in shape and have a capacity of 25 litres.
But, according to the council, collection crew members are in danger of being lifted into refuse vehicles when retrieving sacks which had been emptied.
It notes that one other Surrey-based authority – Guildford borough council – also discontinued its green waste sacks for the same reason.
A spokesman for the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) said that the organisation had intervened due to the foreseeable risk of operatives being caught in an automated lifting mechanism.
He said: The mechanism responds to touch, so there is no way of differentiating between a bag and a workers jacket. Similarly, the crushing and compacting mechanism within the lorry itself is also automated once a bag and or rubbish is deposited.
The council was told it should either ensure the lifting mechanism was effectively isolated between each and every lift to protect operatives as bags were placed. Or, they should revert to bins as a safer method of work as is commonplace elsewhere.
He added that following a Prohibition Notice served to the council in September 2012, Reigate had initially opted to have its workers isolate the lifting arms before standing clear but had rolled out the change for the purpose of efficiency.
Sacks
Remaining sacks in the borough are to be replaced with the brown bins before July 31 this year, which are already in place across much of the borough and like the bags are collected on a fortnightly basis.
Frank Etheridge, streetscene manager for Reigate & Banstead borough council, said: Following advice from the Health & Safety Executive we have decided to withdraw garden waste sacks. This issue is nothing to do with the weight of the sacks. The danger arises from the need to recover sacks once theyre emptied. Our crews have to stand next to automated bin lifts with the associated risk of being lifted bodily into the refuse vehicle.
The withdrawal has prompted concern from some residents in Reigate, who argue there is not enough space in front of their properties, or that they do not produce enough green waste to accommodate the large 240L bins.
Discretionary
Mr Etheridge added: Our garden waste service is a discretionary service, which means that it is not one that were obliged to provide but we do so because we know its something some residents find useful.
If a property really cannot accommodate a garden waste bin, residents can use a composter for their garden waste. Garden waste can also be taken to Surrey county councils tips at Epsom and Earlswood.
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