SEVEN new members of staff have been taken on by Teignbridge Council in a bid to improve waste and recycling services.

The extra staff will help respond to a growing number of new homes, cover staff shortages and manage longer collection rounds.

The council is to hire three drivers and four crew members to help crews complete more rounds on time, reduce the need for overtime and support the aim of getting more than 90 per cent of collections completed on time.

Councillor Peter Williams, Teignbridge District Council Executive Member for environmental services, said: ‘We have listened to residents and are taking clear action to improve waste and recycling collections.

‘This major investment in our collection staff will help us provide the reliable service residents expect.

‘Our crews work hard in difficult conditions. The extra staff will strengthen the team, help cover absences and meet growing demand across the district.’

The plan follows a detailed review of collection performance during 2026 which found several areas where extra support would make a difference, including the growth in new homes, staff availability and longer collection rounds.

More than 5,400 homes have been built in the district since 2014, increasing demand for waste and recycling collections. The new permanent posts will give the service the capacity it needs to support this growth.

The council has already used overtime, temporary staff, flexible crews and driver training to support collections. The permanent posts build on this work and provide a stronger long-term solution.

Waste collection is physically demanding work and the council supports staff wellbeing and helps employees return to work safely after illness.

A larger team will provide more cover when people are absent and help collections continue smoothly.

The council expects the changes to make collections much more reliable and help more than 90 per cent run on time.

The seven posts will cost £158,678 to be funded from its existing waste service budget.