It`s been five weeks now, without any bin collections hereabouts.......even the houses on completely clear and well-gritted roads.
When I telephoned the County dept., I was told that there will be no waste collections for the "foreseeable future": yes it`s health and safety again.......
"Council employees will not be asked to work on surfaces that might 'possibly' be (or are likely to become) slippery"
Does that mean that the entire county-council staff are sent home when`er the weather turns a bit 'iffy'? 
....irrespective of the slipperyness of 'surfaces', I bet it doesn`t slow the same people down in the slightest when going to the shops/pub or nipping to the take-away tonight. 
IMHO: dubious H & S 'concerns' are one of the worst things ever to happen to this country! 
:-? each council must be different,ours(Newcastle) sent a digger round the estate to clear a path for both the normal bin and recycling bin collections , our usual day is tuesday -early am ,sure enough, both were on time as usual ,despite the roads still being bad and the paths thick with snow,goes to show what can be done with a bit of effort! Have to say though,i was suprised when they made it through,conditions were very bad