RESIDENTS who missed out on a rubbish collection following Thursday’s strike action have been told they may have to wait until the end of next week until their household waste is taken away.

Parts of North Swindon, including Moredon, Abbey Meads, Haydon Wick and Taw Hill, were affected as many collectors were taking action over low pay.

Now the council has said residents must put out household waste from Monday and it will be picked up by the end of the week, although at this stage they cannot say exactly which day.

Those who have paid to be part of the green waste collection are also being told to put their rubbish out.

However, recyclables and plastics will not be picked up until the next scheduled collection which will take place on July 24.

Any excess which does not fit into the orange boxes is to be put in plastic bags but not cardboard boxes.

Because of the number of workers on strike, only ten per cent of the collections scheduled for yesterday were able to take place.

Coun Brian Ford (Con, Wroughton and Wichelstowe), the cabinet member in charge of waste collection, said: “As we plan to collect as quickly as possible, we’re unable to confirm which day your waste will be collected, so please leave it out until it is emptied.

“Council officers are working very hard to fix this problem which was not of our making.

“We could have left this all until the next collection date but we aren’t and all household waste will be taken by the end of next week.

“We are doing this because we want to make sure the people of Swindon get a good service.”

The strike was carried out by a number of unions including Unison, Unite, the NUT and the GMB.

Some teachers were among those who walked out, which affected schools across the town. Among those which did not open was Isambard School, meaning North Swindon bore the brunt of the industrial action.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: “It was very frustrating for hard working local residents and shows just how out of step with public opinion the militant unions really are.

“I am encouraged that Swindon Council will be doing everything it can to catch up with the green and black waste collections which is a huge relief to a lot of people.”