Update on refuse and recycling services - 3 October 2019

An open letter to residents from City Environment assistant director Rachel Chasseaud

Dear resident,

Please accept our apologies for the disruption that some residents are having to their refuse and recycling collections.

I’m very sorry that missed collections are having a detrimental effect on the city and are causing a great inconvenience to many people.

I realise there is a large backlog, and our aim is to have this collected and up to date by the beginning of next week.

Ward councillors have also been regularly raising concerns with the Cityclean service. 

There have been a number of problems recently including vehicle breakdowns and a shortage of drivers which we are doing our best to address as a matter of urgency. 

This has involved carrying out double shifts, overtime and using agency staff.

The Hollingdean Waste Transfer Station is now fully open again after the recent fire there, so our lorries are able to tip as normal rather than having to drive to Newhaven – a three hour round trip which badly affected the time we had for other collections. 

I appreciate some residents will have longer term problems with missed collections, and while we have addressed some issues, for others we have more work to do to put things right. 

Please be reassured of my determination to deliver a refuse and recycling service  the city, and its residents, businesses and tourists, deserve. 

Rachel Chasseaud
Assistant Director, City Environment