The SWITCH Forum Bin Hero film is part of an awareness campaign, highlighting the violence and aggression faced by staff day-to-day working in waste management roles.
Some staff are treated poorly by members of the general public whilst trying to do their job, and we want to bring awareness to this issue.
In recent years, the number of cases of violence and aggression against front line staff working in the recycling and waste sector has grown steeply. The numbers grew even more rapidly over the period of lock down during covid but have not really reduced since. Instances can range from swearing, aggressive behaviour, physical violence, spitting and even dangerous use of vehicles.
The sector recognises that people can get frustrated when they miss their bin collection, or they feel they are being asked too much to separate materials or use certain receptacles for certain wastes but there is no excuse for this type of behaviour. Front line staff provide excellent services, throughout the year and under all sorts of circumstances including severe weather, changing work patterns and issues such as Covid rules. They don’t make the rules and regulations, they simply try to deliver the service to us all.
The videos provided give real insight into actual events and show how this type of behaviour can have a long and lasting impact on this individual who are subject to violence and aggression. Few probably think of these impacts let alone absorbing the immediate danger they put themselves and others in through their thoughtless behaviour.
Nobody deserves to face this type of behaviour daily, and we should recognise the great work our resource and waste sectors workers do on our behalf every day. Its time to cut out this unacceptable behaviour and work together to make it a thing of the past.
These videos are free to be used by local authorities and private companies in the sector to use to highlight the issue and join our campaign to raise people’s awareness of the issue.
Watch the individual interviews with members of staff working in different roles across the recycling industry.