Why some Sydney bin collections have been missed

Some inner Sydney residents may be feeling the pinch of overflowing bins and furniture building up on the side of the roads but the council has offered up an explanation.

City of Sydney council confirmed staff shortages and industrial action has led to missed waste and bulky furniture collections.

The impacted suburbs include Alexandria, Annandale, Barangaroo, Beaconsfield, Dawes Point, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Haymarket, Millers Point, St Peters, Sydney and the Rocks.

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A small number of apartment buildings outside these suburbs are also impacted.

"We know how important waste services are and our crews are doing all they can to get on top of the issues," the council said.

"We apologise to residents and ask for some patience as we work to get on top of things."

It comes as more industrial action is planned among waste collectors on February 7.

"While the City of Sydney is not involved in the negotiations, the industrial action is affecting service delivery, especially red, yellow and green bin collections," the council said.

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Council advised residents to put their bins out for collection as normal and if it isn't picked up by 6pm to contact the customer service team.

"With reduced staff numbers we are prioritising red lid bin collections," the council said.

For furniture collections, the council has temporarily paused bookings for bulky waste.

A contractor has been brought in to help clear the backlog of bulky waste collections.

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But in the meantime, council recommended selling or giving away items online first.

"If you have items you no longer want or need, the best thing you can do for the environment is to try and find them a new home," waste outreach officer Katherine O'Sullivan said.

"It's not a good option to put items out on the street. It makes our neighbourhoods look messy and, can block footpath access for people walking. And it often can't get recycled."

It is also illegal to put items on the street without booking a collection with fines up to $7500.

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