Councils across England have announced new bin collection rules ahead of a forecast heatwave that could see temperatures reach 38C. Residents are advised to put their bins out earlier than usual to protect collection crews from the midday sun.
Heatwave Forecast and Record Temperatures
The Met Office forecasts extremely high temperatures from Monday until Thursday, with a potential record-breaking June temperature of 35.6C, set in 1976 in Southampton and Camden Square, London, in June 1957. Tom Crabtree, a Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: “The forecast heatwave is developing into an impactful severe weather event, with record-breaking June temperatures and very high humidity. The combination of heat and humidity will be oppressive and bring impacts across society from public health and infrastructure, to power and water supplies.”
Early Bin Collections to Protect Crews
Cheltenham Borough Council and Somerset Council will begin collections an hour earlier at 6am, while Bristol Waste will start rounds from 5am. Councillor Steve Harvey said: “This is to help our crews and vehicles cope in the heat and ensure that they're able to complete the scheduled collections. Residents are asked to put their recycling boxes, food caddies, refuse and garden bins out for collection at kerbside by 06:00 BST. Our crews will do their very best to be as quiet as possible whilst out collecting earlier in the morning.” Bristol Waste Company added: “Thank you for helping keep our crews safe whilst they do their crucial job.”
Health Concerns and Climate Impact
The heatwave raises health concerns for elderly and vulnerable people. Becky Mitchell, a Met Office meteorologist, noted: “We could also break the June record for overnight minimum temperature, which doesn’t sound as exciting but can be quite impactful. We could also see three consecutive days with temperatures of 37C or above for the first time. That’s extraordinary in June. Climate change is definitely playing a role in these temperatures. What happened in 2022 could happen again this week.”
