"With self-isolation and crew bubble requirements still in place the amount of staff available to work can vary day to day," it said.
Crews have dealt with "hundreds of tonnes" of additional rubbish during the pandemic, said bosses, and have to collect around 500,000 household receptacles around Leeds each week.
The amount of bin collections that fall to the council is more than in other local authorities due to the fact that Leeds has not suspended garden waste collections as others have.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, the member for environment and housing, said there was "no way you can manage the service without having that extra resource".
"We had additional pressures in August but we have overcome them now."
A report has since been released attributing the overspend to the cost of additional staffing cover at household waste recycling centres, the need for additional crews and vehicles, and extra disposal costs.
The news comes as Leeds launches into a campaign that centres around recycling as part of its annual Leeds Recycle Week.
Now in its 18th year, the campaign hopes to encourage locals to recycle their small old electricals - which contain a large percentage of precious materials like gold, silver and copper.
This kind of waste is one of the fastest-growing in the UK with over 155,000 tonnes of waste electricals being thrown away each year.
The campaign is being run in partnership with Material Focus, a not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to stop the nation throwing away or hoarding all their old small electricals.
Scott Butler, Material Focus, Executive Director, said:
“Small, old electricals are one of the fastest growing waste streams and we are throwing away valuable materials that are lost forever. These small old, unwanted electricals contain 75 per cent of materials that can be recycled or reused such as precious materials like gold, silver and copper.
“HypnoCat our messenger for the campaign will be providing step-by-step information on how to reuse and recycle old electricals. We want everyone to know that all old electricals - that’s everything with a plug, battery or cable - can be recycled.
“We are delighted to be working with Leeds City council and are calling on residents to stop throwing away their old electricals, and instead put them in a bag ready to be recycled drop them off at your nearest recycling point.”
Feature image - Pxfuel.com
Leeds
Beloved Leeds coffee brand announce opening date for ANOTHER city centre site
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding yet again.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
And there really is no stopping them as just one month after opening a lovely kiosk in the famed Victoria Quarter, North Star is opening another site on Great George Street. Hurrah!
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can find the new North Star opposite the LGI, sporting its fabulous bright colours that will be sure to wake you up even if the coffee doesn't.
At this site there will be all the caffeinated beverages as well as house-made bakes and sandwiches available to grab-and-go.
And we don't have long to wait to check it out, as they'll be opening their doors this Monday 27 July.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
“While it’s easy to focus on the challenges facing hospitality, we still believe deeply in the role that cafés play in our city's community,” said Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters.
“They are places where people come together, to meet, to pause, to connect. Choosing to invest now is a reflection of our belief in Leeds, and in the long-term value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.”
“These new sites allow us to create meaningful opportunities for both new and existing team members,” Holly added.
“Hospitality is ultimately about people - both those we serve and those who make the experience possible. As a Leeds-born business, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in our city. The support we’ve had from day one is what’s made this growth possible.”
Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
Clementine Hall
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Georgina Pellant -
24th September 2021 
