Vegetable, fruit and garden waste is no longer collected every week in Sint-Michielsgestel and Boekel. This is because there is a shortage of personnel to empty the containers.
From 1 August, the waste will be collected every fortnight, instead of every week. “Due to a staff shortage, collector Van Kaathoven cannot man all routes and vehicles to empty the VFG containers every week,” according to the municipality of Sint-Michielsgestel.
‘Extra loss due to corona infections’
According to the municipality, the shortage of employees is due to ‘a combination of a shortage on the labor market, holidays and extra dropout due to corona infections’. Alderman Sam Goossens, who is responsible for the waste, speaks of force majeure.
The Helmond waste collector Blink, which empties 118,000 containers every week in Someren, Son en Breugel, Helmond, Gemert-Bakel, Nuenen and Deurne, is also struggling with a staff shortage.
Many sick and vacancies
As a result, the municipality of Nuenen, Gerwen and Nederwetten cannot rule out that the waste will not be collected in the coming weeks. And the neighboring municipality of Laarbeek warns: “As in many branches, Blink is currently struggling with a staff shortage. Many employees are sick and there are many vacancies.”