Piles of rubbish and overspilling bins in Bristol as waste increased by 20% over Christmas

Children’s toys and discarded clothes make up the piles of mess left around bins in supermarket car parks
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

These pictures show piles of rubbish left around packed bins and recycling points across Bristol - with the city’s waste company reporting a 20% increase in rubbish over the festive period.

Bins were found overflowing with rubbish on car parks at Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford, Tesco on Lime Trees Road at Horfield and the ASDA superstore in Bedminster.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Among the items left on the floor were clothes, cardboard boxes and children’s toys.

A rubbish pit at Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford.A rubbish pit at Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford.
A rubbish pit at Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford.

According to Bristol Waste, rubbish increased by a fifth over Christmas and has seen a general increase in the city since the pandemic began.

It has prompted the group to open a third reuse shop in Hartcliffe, alongside its existing hubs in Avonmouth and St Phillips, in a bid to reduce waste by rehoming unwanted Christmas gifts.

Children’s toys, which look to be in perfectly good nick, among the waste at Bedminster’s ASDA superstore.Children’s toys, which look to be in perfectly good nick, among the waste at Bedminster’s ASDA superstore.
Children’s toys, which look to be in perfectly good nick, among the waste at Bedminster’s ASDA superstore.

Meanwhile, regular waste services are being delayed across the country due to staff shortages as Covid cases soar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bristol Waste has released revised collection dates after collections were suspended between December 25-28 and January 1-3.

Rubbish bags piled high at Tesco in Horfield.Rubbish bags piled high at Tesco in Horfield.
Rubbish bags piled high at Tesco in Horfield.

Drivers will be making up for the missed days by doing three extra Saturdays in January: the 8th, 15th and 22nd.

Click here for a revised list of collection days.

Bristol Waste is also offering free Christmas tree collection. For details, click here.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.