BINS in Warrington will not be collected today, Wednesday.

As strike action continues, the council has confirmed due to staffing levels that waste collection will not be carried out.

This will include collections in south Warrington.

Staff who are members of the Unite the Union have walked out in a dispute over pay and conditions. It is understood members of other unions have refused to cross the picket line, bringing the service to a standstill.

The council have highlighted that the ongoing dispute is related to national negotiations and do not reflect local conditions of service in Warrington.

However union bosses say local deals have been made in other parts of the country and urged council bosses to get around the table for talks to resolve the dispute.

More than 60 refuse workers joined the picket line outside Woolston depot yesterday, Tuesday, in solidarity with many others across the country fighting for a pay increase in line with the rate of inflation.

A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “For the remainder of the strike period, from Thursday 5 October onwards, please put your household waste and recycling bins out as usual, unless advised otherwise.

“However, if they are not collected by 4pm, please bring them back in for storage, until your next scheduled collection day.

“Collections will be assessed on a day-to-day basis, depending on the staff we have available.”

The council have offered advise to residents during the next two weeks of disruptions, when bins may not be collected:

• Flatten or squash as much household waste or recycling as possible, to maximise space in your bins

• “Pooling” bin space with your neighbours, for those who routinely create less household waste/recycling

• Keeping household recycling items indoors, if you have the space available and your bin is full

Recycling centres to extend opening

Local recycling centres have also extended their opening hours for the meantime.

Woolston and Gatewarth Recycling Centres will be open from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Sunday.

Meanwhile Sandy Lane Community Recycling Centre will be open from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Sunday.

A WBC spokesperson added: “We appreciate that the strike action will cause you disruption, and we are grateful for your patience and understanding during this period.

“We will offer a further update soon about how we will support the catch-up operation following the industrial action.”