Bin demand - city council seeks more refuse workers

The authority is seeking more staff to help the city’s rubbish collection heroes continue to provide this vital service for residents who have been creating more domestic rubbish since measures to counteract the pandemic were introduced.

The city’s waste collectors have kept on working despite the risk of the virus, with crews collecting an increased amount of rubbish from domestic bins at the kerbside as more residents work from home and shop online.

Additional staff are now being recruited to help ensure the service continues to run smoothly.

Aragon Direct Services, the council’s trading company, which operates waste services in the city, is looking for recycling and waste drivers. Applicants need to have an LGV category C (old HGV2) licence and current and up to date CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence).

They are also looking for waste loaders. No formal qualifications are needed, but a good level of fitness and the ability to work outdoors in all weathers will be needed.

Coun Marco Cereste, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for waste services, said: “Our heroes in high vis jackets have had a busy time over the last four months. A rise in the amount of waste collected during lockdown means that our teams’ work levels have increased, so we need more staff to help keep services running normally.

“The roles are challenging, but also very rewarding, you will work in a small dedicated team helping to provide a vital service for our communities.

“Recycling and waste drivers and loaders work a four day condensed week, Tuesday to Friday. This is something our crews really like as it gives them greater flexibility with issues such as child care.”

Meanwhile, messages of support and thanks for refuse crews have flooded from residents in since the start of lockdown.

Mike, from Longthorpe, said: “I would like to thank all our bin men. They have always done a superb job in all the 45 years that I have lived in Longthorpe. In these last very difficult months they have been outstanding. Thanks guys.”

Mrs P, from Blackmead, said: “I would like to pass on my compliments to bin crew working in Blackmead on Friday, I watched the bin men stay social distanced/apart while doing their job and it was absolutely incredible. I was also so impressed, in regards to Covid-19 protection/actions. The crew also put all the bins back where they collected them from.”

Amy, from Peterborough, added: “Thank you so much for the collection that was done by the bin crew, I had not been able to put the bin out, but the crew collected it from the garden, emptied it and returned it.”

Anyone interested in applying for these roles can drop a CV to [email protected].

All roles at Aragon Direct Services are advertised at https://www.aragondirect.co.uk/about-us/jobs/

Bin collections in Cambridgeshire are also handled by Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council and Huntingdonshire District Council. You can contact them for their recruitment details.