Numbers of missed bin collections have soared by 5,000 a week since the start of industrial action by council bin men.

But new figures show missed collections were already rapidly increasing in the week running up to the first walkout on June 30 according to official figures – with nearly 900 a day being reported.

At the start of June there were less than 1,000 reported missed collection per week from the 400,000 households served by the city council.

But this had risen to 6,916 by the last week of June and 5,537 for just four days between July 2 and 6 - the latest days for which the data is currently available.

The council stressed that this is not the total number of collections missed - only the number of reports from residents and includes residual waste, recycling and garden waste collections.

Further figures released to councillors also show that 81 per cent of missed collections are not being picked up the next day - compared to 67 per cent last year.

Bin strike
Bin strike

The data was released as the city’s Labour leaders came under fire over the bin strike and state of the streets during their monthly question time session.

They also revealed that there had been 57 hours of talks over 24 different meetings with trade unions to discuss the changes to the bin service which led to the dispute.

Strategic director Jacqui Kennedy said: “We are still talking.”

The council says it want to overhaul the service to make it more efficient and reduce reliance on overtime and agency staff to keep up after over spending by £8.4 million last year.

But unions say they are cutting supervisor jobs and changing working patterns which will have an impact on safety and productivity.

Talks between the City Council and Unite Union are set to continue on Wednesday. If not resolution is reached bin men will be striking for two hours a day every day until August 4.

Council bosses have today confirmed that there are 75 suitable vacancies, such as caretaker and street cleaning roles, at grade three for binmen whose supervisor roles are being cut. There are also 60 higher grade four vacancies for which they could apply.

Ms Kennedy also thanked residents who are taking refuse to council tips themselves to ease the backlogs during the dispute.

Video Loading

Reports of missed collections

  • May 28 - Jun 3: 1,220

  • Jun 4 - Jun 10: 934

  • Jun 11 - Jun 17: 914

  • Jun 18 - Jun 24: 4,429

  • Jun 25 - Jul 1: 6,916

  • Jul 2 - Jul 6: 5,537