Bin collections have been disrupted in parts of Alsager for the second time in a month and just as the council's waste and recycling provider won an award.

And the missed bin collections come after Cheshire East Council revealed earlier this month that bin collections had been disrupted because of the impact of Covid and the availability of HGV drivers.

Ansa Environmental Services, Cheshire East Council's provider, was recently voted Best Service Team: Waste Management and Recycling Service' at one of the UK's leading public service awards.

The APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Awards recognise the very best in local government frontline services across the UK.

The borough's waste and recycling service provider, which makes more than 13 million collections a year, faced one of its most challenging years to date but continued to collect all three of the borough's waste streams throughout the 2020 pandemic.

Yesterday (September 22nd) waste collections were not made in three Alsager roads - William Howell Way, Dunnock Field Road and Lindsay Way in Alsager..

Three streets in Congleton also did not have their recycling bins collected.

ANSA , who are the contractors for waste services across Cheshire East said: "Due to operational issues we are unable to make waste and recycling collections in some areas of Congleton and Alsager.

"We are aiming to return within 5 working days to collect missed bins."

Two weeks ago, ANSA failed to collect black bins in Derwent Close, Wood Drive, Dart Close and Lindsay Way, Alsager

Prestbury councillor Paul Findlow (Con) said earlier this month that Cheshire East had 'done rather well compared to our peers both generally and in relation, specifically, to refuse collection and disposal'.

He added: "But I, and I believe some others, have had a good number of reports recently of missed bins, including missed assisted bin collections, which has given rise to concern.

The councillor added: "I know it's mixed in, not simply with coronavirus impact on staffing and attendance levels, but also with HGV personnel availability who are suitably qualified to drive the lorries."

Council leader Sam Corcoran (Lab) praised the staff for keeping the service running under such challenging circumstances, especially when a number had had to self-isolate because they had been pinged or tested positive.

"That meant that some of the operatives were not the normal operatives and that did unfortunately mean that there were more missed bins than normal because the people doing that work were not the people who were used to doing the rounds, and although we do have very good systems in place that personal knowledge does always help," said Cllr Corcoran.

"So we did have more missed bins than we would have liked, but we kept the wheelie bin collections going throughout."

Cheshire East's chief executive Lorraine O'Donnell said this was something which was being monitored from a business continuity perspective on a really regular basis, both within Cheshire East Council and working with Ansa.