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| Binmen 'not tipped' at Christmas | Binmen 'not tipped' at Christmas |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Binmen are being refused tips this Christmas because of frustration over rubbish collections and recycling arrangements, the GMB union has said. | Binmen are being refused tips this Christmas because of frustration over rubbish collections and recycling arrangements, the GMB union has said. |
| It says some refuse collectors even face verbal and physical abuse in areas with alternate weekly collections. | It says some refuse collectors even face verbal and physical abuse in areas with alternate weekly collections. |
| It also says fears over conmen have led some councils to ban staff from asking for tips. | It also says fears over conmen have led some councils to ban staff from asking for tips. |
| But a Local Government Association spokesman said he had not heard any reports of binmen being refused tips. | But a Local Government Association spokesman said he had not heard any reports of binmen being refused tips. |
| 'Distressing' | 'Distressing' |
| The GMB says the problems are particularly common in parts of the country where councils have introduced various methods to encourage householders to increase their rates of recycling. | The GMB says the problems are particularly common in parts of the country where councils have introduced various methods to encourage householders to increase their rates of recycling. |
| Alternate weekly collections have been in place for years in some parts of the country, so it's odd that we're only hearing about this now Local Government Association | Alternate weekly collections have been in place for years in some parts of the country, so it's odd that we're only hearing about this now Local Government Association |
| These include West Yorkshire, Norfolk, parts of Wiltshire and several inner London boroughs. | These include West Yorkshire, Norfolk, parts of Wiltshire and several inner London boroughs. |
| "Some of the new rules have been introduced in such a cack-handed way that people are fed up," said senior organiser Justin Bowden. | "Some of the new rules have been introduced in such a cack-handed way that people are fed up," said senior organiser Justin Bowden. |
| "They want nothing to do with the binmen or the council and they're certainly not in the mood to give Christmas gifts, even small ones. | "They want nothing to do with the binmen or the council and they're certainly not in the mood to give Christmas gifts, even small ones. |
| "Binmen have suffered verbal and physical abuse where they used to get a friendly hello. That's distressing for people who work hard all the year doing a difficult, dirty and tough job." | "Binmen have suffered verbal and physical abuse where they used to get a friendly hello. That's distressing for people who work hard all the year doing a difficult, dirty and tough job." |
| Mr Bowden said that, for example, binmen in Norfolk are not allowed to remove rubbish that is placed next to the bin, or even take away bins which are not closed properly. | Mr Bowden said that, for example, binmen in Norfolk are not allowed to remove rubbish that is placed next to the bin, or even take away bins which are not closed properly. |
| This, he said, can lead to residents coming out to confront the refuse collectors. | This, he said, can lead to residents coming out to confront the refuse collectors. |
| Complicated recycling schemes have only added to the problem, with some councils only removing recycling every two weeks, and others asking residents to put out different types of material on different days in different coloured bags. | Complicated recycling schemes have only added to the problem, with some councils only removing recycling every two weeks, and others asking residents to put out different types of material on different days in different coloured bags. |
| And in Wandsworth, London, the council issued a warning after residents were approached for Christmas tips by bogus binmen. | And in Wandsworth, London, the council issued a warning after residents were approached for Christmas tips by bogus binmen. |
| But the Local Government Association spokesman said: "Alternate weekly collections have been in place for years in some parts of the country, so it's odd that we're only hearing about this now." | But the Local Government Association spokesman said: "Alternate weekly collections have been in place for years in some parts of the country, so it's odd that we're only hearing about this now." |
| He added. "Where they have been introduced, recycling rates have increased by 30%." | He added. "Where they have been introduced, recycling rates have increased by 30%." |
| Read a selection of your comments: | |
| Binmen get paid very well. No need to tip them If they don't want to do the job there are plenty of people who will, without wanting a tip.Mac, London | |
| The binmen work hard to do the job they have to do and have to put up with both their councils decisions, and tenants responses to them decisions. It's hardly their fault.Tom Mann, Dagenham, Essex | |
| I did give a tip this year, (As I do most years) to both our bin men (people) and our recycling team. They do a very dirty and unattractive job, but they do it well and are always obliging. It's a job I wouldn't do... so am more than prepared to say thank you at Christmas.Barbara Latchem, Burnham UK | |
| We have to leave bin at end of drive, by road, so we do not leave tips/Xmas cards anymore. I also have rotting stinking bins in the summer. Also service has been reduced by biweekly collection so what is there anything to give a 'tip' for? It's got nothing to do with recycling, just cost-saving for local council, then they can increase Council tax way above rate of inflation to cover their other gross inefficiencies/pension schemes.Misterhibs, Liss, Hants | |
| How can we hold binmen responsible for policies introduced by local/national government? They have a job to do like the rest of us. They have my wholehearted support and I will be ensuring they get my appreciation.Mal, Huddersfield | |
| My dad always tipped the binmen when I was a kid. Back then though, the binmen also took any extra rubbish you had. Why should they get a tip ? They only take what is in the bin and even then the recycling bin, they won't take if the roots of the plants have too much soil on. I pay enough in council tax.Hannah, Staffs | |
| Every fortnight the binmen think up some new excuse not to take my rubbish - most recently, because the bin was a metre from the kerb, then last week because there was so much accumulated rubbish the bin lid wouldn't go down. I usually have to drive the rubbish to the tip myself. Binmen spend more time leaving excuse-notes on my bin than they do actually collecting rubbish. It's bad enough that I have to pay their salaries through council tax; why should I give them a tip too?RR, Suffolk | |
| I'm a binman and I feel this is outrageous! All I do is take your bins 15 foot onto the back of a lorry and do nothing else! I deserve at least a fiver! Bim Bentbin | |
| I refuse to tip the binmen who collect from my home. They regularly leave half the bin in emptied, drop rubbish that they don't pick up and then leave the bins on the street. Why would I tip these people who don't do what they're already paid to do?Jason Anderson, London | |
| I have certainly withheld my customary Christmas tip from the binmen this year. In the past the binmen used to try and help remove my rubbish, now they look for an excuse not to remove it. One case was where they refused to empty my garden refuse bin because some passer-by had put a chocolate bar wrapper on top of the grass cuttings. Alas, I was unable to guard the bin as I have to work for a living during the day. On other days an elderly lady on our street did not get her bin emptied because it was not closed correctly. This meant she had nowhere to put her rubbish for the next 2 weeks and had blue-bottles everywhere round the side of her house - all because she did not have the strength to push the rubbish down- something the binmen could have done easily without interrupting their hour and a half break at the end of the road where they hide away before returning to the depot at the allotted time.Denis Brown, Prenton, Wirral | |
| We find it tends to be the old people that tip now. We try and help people if they have extra rubbish all we ask is for them to ask us and not expect us to take it. The reason the tips in our council have dropped this year is the council changed all the rounds making a real hash job of it and not asking the people who do the job but using outsiders and computersR, Huntingdon | |
| Not only does no one tip me in my council job, but policy rightly prohibits me from accepting gifts from people I work with or for. Why should bin men be different? If I asked my 'service users' for money I'd rightly be suspended.J Streets, Shropshire |