Trash collectors are skipping pick-ups across the Island in random industrial action because they claim they are being forced to handle garbage containing human and animal waste.

A number of people have complained during the last week that bags of trash put out for collection were totally ignored and left to rot in the summer heat.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott told The Royal Gazette last night that checks on the volume of garbage collected during the last ten days proved it was down on previous weeks.

And although he had not received official notification from the 12 garbage collecting crews or the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), he said he believed there were two reasons behind the random strikes.

He said: "What we have heard is that the collectors are upset people are putting both animal and human waste, we are referring to faeces, in their garbage and the men take great exception to it.

"I could not begin to explain why anybody would want to do that, but people are doing it and we ask them to stop.

"We don't know how many people are to blame, but it is too many. The men keep making this point to us. We have asked people to be more considerate before and we ask them again.

"It is very unpleasant.'' But Mr. Scott said he believed that the trash collectors were also missing pick-ups because they wanted to be paid overtime when bank holidays occurred.

He said the crews were not asked to work bank holidays, such as Bermuda Day last Wednesday, but were asked to pick up the garbage on their next visit to the areas about three days later.

He said, although he had again had no official notification, he believed the lack of overtime was a major reason behind the random strike action.

The Minister said discussions were held between the Department, trash collectors and the BIU and he hoped the union would present its case soon so the problems could be ironed out.

However, he stressed that Government's position was that no overtime would be paid.

He added: "The way the garbage collection is scheduled means the men are not doing any more work when bank holidays arrive.

Trash crews in random job action "There is a twice weekly pick up so trash that would have been picked up on a holiday is left until the next time.'' And he apologised for the inconvenience and asked people to bear with the Department until normal service resumed.

Mr. Scott said: "We know that the volume of trash collection has been down for about a week and we have had complaints. Even just one complaint is too many.

"It is not the majority of trash collectors that are doing this. We have some crews who are going that extra mile to make sure trash is picked up.

"But it is not just happening in any particular area. It is on both sides of the Island.

"We apologise to people for the inconvenience and ask them to assist us where they can by not leaving inappropriate waste in their garbage.'' And he said houses where animal and human waste was found to be among the garbage would lose their refuse collection service.

One Paget businessman, who did not wish to be named, urged the Ministry to solve the problem immediately.

He said: "It's ridiculous. The last thing you want in summer heat in Bermuda is piles of stinking trash lying about the place.

"It's a health hazard and it encourages vermin. I would say that the service has been pretty patchy, anyway, since collection went twice weekly last year, but this is getting beyond a joke.

"I think the Minister should clamp down and get full service restored as quickly as possible.'' Nobody from the BIU was available for comment last night.