WASTE and recycling collections are taking a tougher stance after the installation of an electronic reporting system to monitor issues such as bins not being left out.

Bromsgrove District Council has installed Webaspx WM InCab in all collection vehicles which will keep collection operatives in touch with headquarters.

The technology will enable them to report issues as they arise such as bins not left out or a street that cannot be accessed, allowing the service to be more responsive and efficient.

Bromsgrove District Council’s Portfolio-Holder for Environmental Services, Roger Smith, said: "Tracking routes in real time will allow us to predict finish times and where crews may need assistance, this will be a real benefit in making our service more responsive and efficient for our residents and means the crews aren’t so isolated in their job."

Information will be transmitted straight to the depot offices, where customer services officers can also see where the vehicle was and at what time when the issue was raised.

Currently, if a bin is reported to the council as not emptied by a resident, crews will return to empty it, even if it hadn’t been put out for 7am as required.

However, as the new system beds in, crews will return on the first instance of a bin not being emptied but will not return to empty the bin on a second occasion.

Cllr Smith added: "This is an inefficient use of our time and can be a very costly to the service.

"Crews can now record the time when bins are collected on the rounds and also record which bins have not been left out.

"We will be able to explain to the resident why their bin was not emptied because it was not put out ready for collection."

The WM InCab system will also be used as part of a future county-wide campaign to encourage and educate residents to recycle the right things.

To report a missed bin or for more information visit bromsgrove.gov.uk.