'Bin rage' attacks on the up as householders revolt

Jo Cave

02 May 2008

ANGRY residents are taking out their frustration about the new waste collections on council staff.
Warwick District Council reported this week that workers had suffered 'torrents of abuse' from householders since the wheelie bin scheme was introduced a month ago.
But a council spokesman warned that any physical and verbal attacks on staff members would be logged and legal action would be taken against the perpetrator.
The Sort It team has born the brunt of the bin-rage as thousands of unhappy customers flooded the switchboard with complaints. But other members of staff from different departments have been threatened, sworn at, taunted and had rubbish thrown at them.
District council spokesman Richard Brooker said: "An unfortunate by-product of customer frustration has been a steady torrent of verbal abuse from customers directed at our staff, both on the phone and at collection events. Such actions are completely unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.
 "In one event a random member of staff leaving work after 5.30pm suffered a torrent of foul language from a customer who had come to complain about the refuse service and found the reception had closed. In another incident a member of the chief executive's team terminated a phone call with a customer after a number of threats and foul language was used.
"We are keeping a record of such incidents and where we are able to identify the individual involved details will be passed to our legal team. Customers phoning the Sort It Team are advised that all calls are recorded."
Due to the unprecedented number of calls and emails to the Sort It team, extra staff have been laid on to deal with the backlog. From this week the 01926 456339 number will be manned from 8am to 7.30pm Monday to Thursday, 8am till 6pm on Fridays and 9am to 1pm Saturdays.

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