The bin collectors in my area seem to regularly disappear down the alley to the field at the rear. I have never seen any permanent or temporary facilities there!

Hi, I used to work for a council. Most bin wagons these days are fitted with a hand-washing station (provided someone fills the reservoir!). I think it's reasonable to provide bottles for water, which can be filled from a tap in the depot. Regarding toilets - identify public loos, friendly businesses (cafés, pubs etc) and if yours is an LA operation, Council offices, libraries etc along each route. Most collectors I've come across are happy to eat in the cab (usually parked up by a local burger van), provided they can wash their hands. They can also feed and water at the waste facility when emptying the wagon. Going away from the subject slightly, Jay raises a relevant point. Task and Finish encourages rushing (my binmen used to jog down the road between bins) and discourages break taking. In my depot, we had wagons returning any time after 2pm. After a long struggle with unions we did away with T&F, redesigned the routes and now they're out all day with less pressure to rush. There's no place for T&F in this day and age. Ian

I agree with BJC recently a senior manager laughed when he heard that men were using paper bags to releave themselves and called it a good use of their time - he was not interested otherwise Addionally local agreements can be made with schools, libraries/parks (if we have any left!) and other public buildings along with pubs etc. so staff should not have to go into bushes etc.

Thought libraries and public toilets were being closed to save money. My local authority want to collect waste monthly, instead of every two weeks - so that will half the problem. People seem to be disposable. Chris

My Authority encourages the crews to use leisure centres public toilets and provide hand wipes and viral/bacteria gel in the cabs to clean hands. The crews working in the town return to the depot canteen and those in rural locations use some of the local farmers facilities, we have written this into our RA's and they where accepted by the HSE inspectors last year. We provided reusable water bottles in the cabs that can be filled from water dispenser before leaving the depot and leisure centres, during hot/humid weather additional bottled water is provided for the crews.

* ... back of the cab..