Dudley Council's bin crews will start collections as early as 5am this week to avoid the worst of the extreme heat, following a red alert issued by the Met Office for June 24 and 25. Temperatures in the West Midlands are forecast to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, prompting the council to adjust shift patterns to protect workers.
Red Alert Heatwave Triggers Early Collections
The Met Office has upgraded its warning to red for Wednesday and Thursday, with an amber heat health alert already in place for Tuesday. Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Council, confirmed the changes: "Due to the high temperatures, our bin crews will be starting collections earlier than usual to help keep them safe in the heat. We are asking residents to make sure bins are out the night before, as collections will take place from 5am for the rest of this week."
The council has not mandated school closures, leaving individual schools to decide. Bradley added: "We are not aware of any current plans for schools to close. Any such decisions would be made locally by schools with parents and staff being notified through the usual communication channels."
Advice for Residents During Extreme Heat
Dudley Council has issued general guidance for residents, including keeping curtains and blinds closed during the day to block sunlight, opening windows at night if safe, taking cool baths or showers, and avoiding strenuous exercise between 11am and 3pm. Residents are also advised to avoid alcohol and to call 111 or 999 if feeling dizzy or unwell.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mark Sidaway warned of severe impacts: "Red warnings are reserved for the most severe events and we're expecting severe and significant impacts from this heatwave, with health impacts likely for many, even beyond those who are normally more vulnerable to the heat. As well as very high daytime temperatures, there will be consecutive nights where temperatures do not drop below 20°C, which is called a Tropical Night. This will make it very hard for people to recover from the daytime heat, exacerbating the heat stress impacts."
Impact on Services and Community
The early bin collections aim to reduce heat exposure for waste collection crews, who would otherwise work during peak temperatures. The heatwave is expected to last until the weekend, with the red alert covering the most intense period. Residents are urged to check the council's summer wellbeing page for further advice on staying cool, swimming safely outdoors, and fire safety.
