AT least two refuse collectors were attacked every week last year — many by people angry at recycling rules.
They were punched, head-butted, driven at, spat at, had a cup of tea thrown at them and were even pelted with rubbish.
Several were trying to explain rubbish was put in the wrong bin — councils have four on average, but a handful have ten.
One man in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, threatened a collection crew with an axe.
In Slough, Berkshire a bin collector had a cup of tea thrown over him and his foot stamped on by someone enraged that they would not empty a contaminated recycling bin.
Police were called to an incident in Thurrock, Essex, where a resident first verbally abused a rubbish collector and then spat in their face.
Details of the 134 incidents last year were disclosed in Freedom of Information responses from councils.
Official figures show that last year 22.1m tonnes of rubbish was collected from homes in England, of which 9.9m tonnes was sent for recycling.
The Local Government Association said: “Any attack on a refuse collector, verbal or physical, is completely unacceptable.
“We take a zero tolerance approach and report matters to the police.
“Nobody should have to experience this kind of shameful behaviour whilst carrying out their job.
“Councils take a zero tolerance approach to any form of attack on their employees and any such matters would be reported to the police so perpetrators can be brought to justice.”
