Southend-on-Sea City Council is moving recycling and waste collections an hour earlier across the city this week to protect crews from the forecast high temperatures. The council confirmed that rounds scheduled from Tuesday 7 July to Friday 10 July will start at 6am, rather than the usual time.
Households are being urged to have their bins, boxes, and caddies out by 6am on their normal collection day. Councillor Daniel Cowan, leader of the council, said the earlier start is a direct health and safety measure for collection crews carrying out physically demanding work in the heat. The arrangements mirror those introduced during the June heatwave, when an amber Met Office warning pushed temperatures as high as 38°C and forced rounds to begin as early as 5am on one day.
The council’s Southend Waste App, which is operated by contractor SUEZ on the council’s behalf, allows residents to set collection reminders and receive updates. Nearly 49,000 people have downloaded the tool since its launch ahead of the city’s switch from sacks to wheelie bins for most households in October 2025. Anyone missing a collection can also report it directly through the app.
Councillor Daniel Cowan, leader of the council, has previously said that shifting the start time helps limit crews’ exposure to the most intense heat while keeping services running safely. The council notes that it will make every effort to keep noise disruption to a minimum during the earlier collections. Normal 7am rounds are expected to resume after Friday 10 July, though the arrangement may extend if the hot weather persists.
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