Has your collection been missed?

Whole area missed?

If it is still between 7.30am - 6pm on your normal day of collection and other containers in your area have also not been emptied, we may just be running late, or have other operational difficulties.

Click here to find out when your container will be emptied.

Just your street missed?

This could be down to human error but usually it is due to access problems, such as a utility company preventing access to containers. If you are certain the street has been missed (not just your own bin) & there are bins out for collection, please call Access Bolton on Tel: 01204 336632. We will then return to empty your container as soon as possible.

Just your container(s) missed?

We complete over 5 million bin emptying cycles each year with over a 99.98% success rate.  However, inevitably some containers will get missed. If you think this has happened to you, it may simply be due to human error but there may also be a reason why your container was not emptied. The main reasons are as follows:

  • Bin/Box Not Out
    Bins should be out for collection from 7.30am onwards.  Do not rely on the collection crew coming at the same time each week. They sometimes have to change for operational reasons.  If your bin was not out before the crew arrived it will be emptied on your next normal day of collection for that container. (Christmas excepted).

 

  • Bin Lid Up
    Crews are instructed not to empty bins where the lid is not closed. This is for Health and Safety reasons due to the possibility of injury, for instance, from loose sharps that may fall out of the bin.  You should remove sufficient waste to allow the lid to be closed. It will then be emptied on the next normal collection day for that container.
  • Bin/Box Too Heavy
    f you use your containers in the way they are intended to be used you should have no problems.  However, our staff are instructed not to empty overloaded containers for Health and Safety reasons.

    With the green box the issue is relatively straightforward. Usually, if the green box is too heavy for you to carry easily, it will be too heavy for our staff to empty.  However, with wheeled bins it is not so straightforward, which can leave to customers thinking that our staff are being unreasonable in not emptying a bin when in fact they are following our agreed procedure.
     
    Just because you can wheel the bin does not necessarily mean it is not too heavy to be emptied.   The safety issues occur when the bin is being raised up and tipped into the collection vehicle. It can become unstable, fall and injure our staff.   Bolton Council have had 3 serious injuries over the last 10 years to collection staff who had attempted to load bins which were overloaded.

    The Health & Safety Executive has required us to improve our procedures and now staff have specialised manual handling training to enable them to assess what is a safe or dangerous load.  Our staff are not over cautious but are instructed "If in doubt - don't lift."  They will then attach a sticker to your bin or box advising why it wasn't emptied.

    If you remove sufficient waste to allow the bin to be wheeled, or box carried easily, it will be emptied on the next normal collection day for that container.
  • Recycling Container Contaminated
    If Green bin waste is contaminated with none green waste or there are items in the green box which are not accepted, crews are instructed not to empty the container as it could result in a whole bin wagon load being rejected by the recycling company. If you remove the contaminants the container will be emptied on the next normal collection day for that container.
    Follow this link for advice on what can and can not go in the green bin.
    Follow this link for advice on what can and can not go in the burgundy bin / green box.
  • Bin/Box Damaged
    Crews are instructed not to empty damaged containers for Health and Safety reasons. If your container is damaged, please order a replacement by ringing Access Bolton on Tel: 01204 336633.

Bin/Box missed - No reason

If we have not emptied your container by 6pm on your normal collection day and there does not appear to be any reason why we missed your container(s) then please accept our apologies and ring Access Bolton on Tel: 01204 336632 after 8am on the following day (Mon - Fri). They will first check with the crew to see if there actually was a reason and advise you accordingly. If not, they will arrange for your container to be emptied within three working days.

Missed Bag Collection - Any reason

Any missed bags will be collected on your next normal collection day.  If you would like further information please call Access Bolton on 01204 336633