Almost 70 new people will help transform Barking and Dagenham Council's refuse and waste team, following the local authority's biggest recruitment drive for several years.
The newly filled roles include drivers, loaders, street cleaners, supervisors and office-based staff, as the council looks to expand and improve the service to make bin collections more efficient and reliable.
New vehicles will help crews access narrow roads
As well as taking on new staff, the service is also trialling two new trucks. After experiencing ongoing issues with the fleet which have caused many vehicles to be repeatedly taken off the road, the council is investing in new trucks so that residents’ collections aren’t impacted. The crews will also be piloting a shorter truck, which will be able to better reach areas where access has previously been an issue. The service is hoping that this will cut down on the number of missed collections that are caused by narrow roads, or poorly parked vehicles.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Public Realm, said: “Bin collections have been a big issue for our residents for a long time, which is why we’re working even harder to improve our collections.
“I am very pleased to be welcoming the new staff to the refuse team, as they will provide a much-needed boost to the service. With more crews on the ground and better vehicles, we will be one step closer to making sure we are delivering the best service possible to our residents.”
Some refuse roles still available to local people
There are a few vacancies remaining, including three RCV drivers, with a top salary of £24,999 and three specialist drivers within the street cleansing team with a pay packet worth up to £22,425. The council is also seeking a street cleansing supervisor to help lead and motivate operatives, with a top salary of £30,108, and a town ambassador to act as a point of contact for local businesses and resident groups. The pay packet for this role is worth up to £22,435.
The deadline for these roles is either Monday 29 or Tuesday 30 October, depending on the role. To apply, visit the council website.