Fareham staff collecting rubbish 'overwhelmed' by colourful thank you messages left on bins

Residents have also been waving from windows and clapping to show their appreciation for staff as they go about their rounds.

One resident said a colourful thank-you message from her three children left staff looking ‘very shocked’ to receive recognition for their hard work.

Natalie Hynd, mum of eight-year-old Tobbie and his older siblings Ebonie, 10, and 12-year-old Finlie, said: ‘It was the children’s idea – I think they realised how important it is to have the bins emptied.

‘And they said, “if we can make someone smile, we have done a good thing”.

‘We could tell the bin men were surprised. All key workers need more recognition.

‘I do hope this appreciation continues. It’s really important.’

The children plan to continue to hand out thank you pictures to staff manning rubbish collection lorries, as well as post staff and local care homes.

Refuse collection staff have been ‘overwhelmed’ by the community’s reaction to their work during the lockdown, according to the Councillor Simon Martin at Fareham Borough Council.

He said: ‘The council’s refuse teams have been overwhelmed by the wonderful pictures and kind messages of support from residents as they go about their rounds.

‘The council is working hard to ensure we can continue to keep the essential refuse collection service running and it’s great to see our teams getting this recognition from residents.’

The council is asking for residents with symptoms associated with Covid-19 or self-isolating at home to seal personal waste such as tissues and disposable cleaning cloths in smaller plastic bags.

They must then be stored for 72 hours, before being double bagged and put in the bin.

The council’s garden and bulky waste services, as well as the fridge and freezer collection service, have been suspended to ensure the council can focus on rubbish and recycling collections.

No new bookings will be taken for fridge and freezer or bulky waste collections until further notice.

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