BINMEN CHASED DOWN STREET; EXCLUSIVE Frustration at new waste collection scheme boils over.Byline: By Michael Corley BINMEN are regularly being assaulted in streets by angry residents in a row over a new waste collection scheme in Warwickshire. In one incident, refuse collectors were chased down the road and had garbage chucked at them by irate i·rate adj. 1. Extremely angry; enraged. See Synonyms at angry. 2. Characterized or occasioned by anger: an irate phone call. householders. In addition to physical attacks, verbal abuse verbal abuse Psychology A form of emotional abuse consisting of the use of abusive and demeaning language with a spouse, child, or elder, often by a caregiver or other person in a position of power. See Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Spousal abuse. has been hurled at binmen and council staff every day since the scheme was introduced a month ago, council chiefs say. They say staff handling phone calls about the scheme are also being regularly abused. Fed-up council chiefs are pledging to seek legal action against culprits. Angry calls are placing extra pressure on staff who responded to more than 20,000 calls in March - the number usually received in a year. One young call-taker was allegedly told they should be "sacked and hung from the nearest tree". And a drinks can was hurled at one Warwick District Council worker who was manning the gates at its HQ at Riverside House, in Milverton Hill, Leamington. A council spokesman 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. "Staff have been sworn at, taunted, had refuse thrown at them, and a wide variety of threats made. Such actions are completely unacceptable, and will not be tolerated." Frustration has been caused by recycling waste not being collected on time in some streets, or not collected at all. The council admits the volume of recycled waste was underestimated. To help, householders are urged to separate their plastic, glass and paper/cardboard in the red boxes and bags provided. Some residents have complained of other waste not being collected, and wheelie wheel·ie n. A stunt in which the front wheel or wheels of a vehicle, such as a bicycle or motorcycle, are raised so that the vehicle is balanced momentarily on its rear wheel or wheels. bins not being provided. But the council says some of the problems have arisen from people misunderstanding the new system. Jackie Webb, council waste management services manager, said: "It seems to be part of a general trend, Britain is becoming more intolerant. "Changes to the refuse service, in the main, have gone well but for some it's been frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: . "Some of my staff are working 12 hours a day, volunteering evenings to help. "They don't deserve this. Verbal and physical abuse are criminal offences." The council has now extended its helpline helpline Noun a telephone line set aside for callers to contact an organization for help with a problem helpline n → teléfono de asistencia al público hours and recruited more staff, and has added days for the public to collect recycling boxes. For more information, call 01926 456339. CAPTION(S): WARNING... Council waste management services manager Jackie Webb (left) points out that verbal and physical abuse are criminal offences. |
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