Castle Point Borough Council has moved all waste collection start times forward to 6am this week to shield crews from heat exhaustion as extreme weather grips Canvey Island and the surrounding borough. The temporary change, confirmed on the council’s homepage, covers every scheduled round and will remain in place until the end of the week.
Crews will begin lifting bins earlier than usual, working through the cooler part of the day to reduce the risk of heat-related illness. The council said the decision was taken to protect the safety of its outdoor teams, and it has asked households to put their rubbish out either the evening before collection or by 6am on the day itself.
The change affects all areas of Castle Point, including Canvey Island, and coincides with an amber heat-health alert covering south Essex. Similar early-morning rounds have been adopted by other authorities across the UK during the June 2026 heatwave, with some councils starting collections as early as 4am to keep crews out of peak temperatures. Residents who normally leave bins out later in the morning will need to adjust their routine, but the council stressed the measure is for one week only.
No collections are being cancelled, and the council thanked residents in advance for their cooperation while crews complete the rounds under the revised schedule.
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