Accident at Gosport bottle banks ‘a matter of time’ as use doubles during lockdown

More than 180 tonnes of glass has been recycled in the borough across April – up from 116 tonnes the previous year, according to the council.

But the additional deposits have seen the council’s bottle banks crammed beyond capacity, leading one waste collection worker to warn that they pose a danger to his and residents’ safety.

Rob Smart, contracted by waste collection company Urbaser to empty Gosport’s bottle banks, took to social media to warn residents that it is ‘just a matter of time’ before someone breaks a bottle and hurts themselves while trying to use the recycling points.

Speaking to The News, the 35-year-old said: ‘I have to be at the back of the lorry on the control as the bottles are being lifted into the lorry, and a few have fallen down really close to my head – I’ve had a few close calls.

‘It’s really dangerous.

‘‘And it’s just a matter of time before someone hurts themselves trying to cram a bottle in there.

‘What I have been advising people to do is just fill the banks to where the holes are and then stop.’

Across the borough’s 12 bottle drop-off sites, banks in Rowner, Stokes Bay, and Lee-on-Solent have frequently exceeded their capacity during the lockdown, according to Rob.

He added: ‘People have been appreciative of the work the council is doing – a lot of people have paid compliments while I’m working.’

The council is asking residents to refrain from both cramming bottles into the bank and leaving bags of bottles if it is full, according to councillor Graham Burgess, chairman of the council's community board.

‘We've increased collections as part of our effort to maintain waste services in the current situation.

‘However, there will be times when bottle banks are full.

‘We would ask residents not to cram bottles in, as this is dangerous for them and for our staff. If a bank is full, please take your glass home or go to a nearby bottle bank.’

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