All missed bins could be collected within days amid plans for 10 extra bin crews working specifically on picking up rotting rubbish that has been left as problems continue in the south of the county. 

There have been a string of complaints about bins being missed, largely across the south of Bucks, resulting in rats and maggots and a disgusting stench amid the warm June weather. 

In an update to residents, council leader Martin Tett said their waste team has been meeting daily with their bin contractor Veolia to escalate cases, resolve issues and "demand a recovery plan in which we have confidence".

He said: "Our priorities are to collect the bins that have been missed as soon as possible and to put in place a set of robust measures to avoid future missed collections.

"We are aiming to collect all missed bins in the coming days by agreeing with Veolia to dedicate up to 10 extra bin lorries and crews solely working on collecting missed bins.

"If your bin is missed, please report it via the council’s website as this is the most direct route to log it on our system.

"If you have already reported a missed collection, we know and we are coming to collect your bin in the next few days, so please leave those bins out for collection."

Buckinghamshire Council inherited the Veolia contract from the former Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks districts and within the contract, Veolia planned to reorganise its bin rounds. 

Cllr Tett said: "In theory, this was a good idea as it would reduce the average number of bins each round was required to collect and would allow time for better customer service, such as replacing the bins better.

"In advance of the round change we were not experiencing a significant issue with missed bins, although Veolia anticipated that there would be some limited and short-term disruption when the rounds were reorganised.

"However, the degree of disruption and its length has far exceeded that which we were led to expect. In addition, there have been far too many repeated failures and, in some cases, misleading reports from Veolia that bins have been collected when they clearly have not.

"Whilst the vast majority of bins continue to be collected as expected, for a significant minority of residents the service has been poor.

"I’m very sorry for the continued disruption to bin collection services that some residents in the south of the county are currently experiencing. I know that we are falling short of the level of service that you rightfully expect and for this, I again apologise."

He also promised further measures to stop any more missed collections, including: 

  • More "manageable" round routes 
  • Two extra garden waste vehicles brought into use to provide extra resource 
  • Another two empty vehicles "on call" to take over if regular collection vehicles are full before the end of their round 
  • Dedicated supervisors on the road to go where they may be needed 
  • Information packages for crews in areas where multiple properties have been missed to make sure they are not missed again 
  • Detailed morning and evening briefing sessions with crews to review the day and make sure problems are not repeated