Bury residents have not had their blue bins collected this week due to "unprecedented levels of winter illness".

Residents have shared their outrage after the announcement that blue bin collections will not be going ahead this week up until Friday.

The next blue bin collection for residents who were due to have their waste collected this week will be made after January 9.

The council said they want to concentrate efforts on emptying brown bins before those collections are paused for two weeks from December 25 to January 5.

Collections of grey, green, and blue bins will change to one day later than usual during this period.

The decision has caused dissatisfaction due to the amount of plastic and glass waste generated over the Christmas period.

Concerns including the potential increase in fly-tipping have been raised and another resident, who does not drive, was worried about how she would make it to the tip.

In the announcement made last night, Tuesday, a council spokesperson said: “Due to unprecedented levels of winter illness including flu and Covid, we have unfortunately had to take the decision to temporarily withdraw blue bin collections this week (December 18 to 22).

“This will allow us to concentrate our efforts on emptying your brown bin before collections are paused for two weeks from December 25 to January 5, and your green and grey bins which fill up more quickly at this time of year.

“We thank you for your patience and apologise for any inconvenience."

Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “Our bin crews work all year round enduring all sorts of extreme weather conditions throughout the seasons but over the last week or so our workforce has been struck by winter illness, including flu and Covid, which is unfortunately causing delays to collections going in to the festive period.

“With our limited workforce, we are and will continue to do everything we can to empty as many bins as possible but delays are likely in some areas.

“Residents are encouraged to check for the latest advice at www.bury.gov.uk/missedbin and sign up at www.bury.gov.uk/binalerts to receive email reminders and updates.”

To help crews with completing collection rounds as efficiently as possible, residents are asked to put bins out by 7am with the handles facing the road and to park vehicles where they won’t obstruct the collection trucks.

Cllr Quinn added: “Efforts over the period December 25 to January 5 will be concentrated on emptying green and grey bins, but crews will also empty blue bins if they can.

“Advice to residents over the festive period is to leave green and grey bins out if they are missed.

"If a blue collection is missed, the bin should be taken back in and put out on the next scheduled collection day in January.

“Residents can help at this time by saving space in their bins by squashing and flattening their items.

"Extra waste can also be taken to the household waste and recycling centre any day except December 25 and January 1.

“We apologise for any inconvenience the current situation may cause and thank residents for their patience during what are unavoidable and exceptional circumstances.

"Our crews will get all the collections back on track as soon as possible in the New Year.”

The planned changes to collections for blue, green and grey bins are as follows.

Collections due on Tuesday, December 26 will change to Wednesday, December 27

Collections due on Wednesday, December 27 will change to Thursday, December 28

Collections due on Thursday, December 28 will change to Friday, December 29

Collections due on Friday, December 29 will change to Saturday, December 30.