Households across parts of England are being asked to put their bins out earlier than usual as councils adjust waste collection schedules during an intense heatwave. The changes are designed to protect refuse crews and help services continue operating as temperatures are forecast to reach exceptionally high levels.
The revised arrangements come as the Met Office warns that the current spell of hot weather could bring record-breaking June temperatures, alongside potential impacts on public health, transport, and infrastructure. Several local authorities have already introduced earlier collection times, with some rounds beginning before sunrise.
The measures affect residents in areas including Cheltenham, Somerset, and Bristol, where councils and waste operators have issued updated guidance for collection days. According to local authority announcements and reports from the BBC, residents are being encouraged to ensure bins are available for collection much earlier than normal.
Councils Introduce Earlier Collections to Protect Crews and Maintain Services
Councils across western England have altered collection schedules as temperatures are expected to climb throughout the week. According to Cheltenham Borough Council, collection crews will begin their rounds at 6 a.m., while Bristol Waste has announced starts from 5 a.m.
Councillor Steve Harvey said the changes are intended to help crews and vehicles cope with the heat while ensuring scheduled collections can be completed. Residents have been asked to place recycling boxes, food caddies, refuse bins, and garden waste bins at the curb by 6 a.m. He also noted that crews would try to minimize noise while working earlier in the morning.
Somerset Council has similarly encouraged residents to put their bins out the evening before collection. According to BBC reporting, the early starts follow disruption during a previous hot spell in May, when high temperatures contributed to vehicle breakdowns and mechanical problems affecting refuse lorries.
Authorities have also pointed to operational benefits beyond worker safety. Earlier collections allow waste to be cleared before temperatures peak, reducing the likelihood of strong odors and other heat-related hygiene concerns.
Cheltenham Borough Council said the revised schedule is expected to remain in place until at least June 29, although the arrangement could continue if hot weather persists.
Met Office Warns of Exceptional Heat and Wider Impacts
The collection changes coincide with an amber extreme heat warning issued by the Met Office. According to the national weather service, the warning covers much of southern and eastern England as well as parts of south Wales from Monday through Thursday.
Forecasters have said there is growing confidence that temperatures this week could challenge or exceed the current UK June record of 35.6C, set in Southampton in 1976 and in London’s Camden Square in 1957. Some areas could reach around 38C.
Tom Crabtree, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, described the event as a potentially severe weather episode characterized by very high temperatures and humidity. He said the combination could have consequences across public health, infrastructure, and utility services.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, significant impacts are possible across health and social care services, with older adults and people with underlying health conditions facing heightened risks. The agency has issued heat-health alerts covering most of England.
Meteorologist Becky Mitchell also noted that overnight temperatures could approach record June levels, creating unusually warm nights. She said the country could experience three consecutive days with temperatures of 37C or higher, an occurrence she described as extraordinary for June.
As the heatwave continues, councils are urging residents to follow revised collection schedules to help ensure waste services operate without interruption during one of the hottest June periods on record.
