SILHILLIANS are being called on to be kind following the rise of abuse to those who keep the borough tidy.
Veolia, the company which oversees the running of teams out on Solihull’s streets, has launched StreetKind after a number of incidents have been reported affecting its Solihull team.
The campaign thanks residents who recognise the hard work of their teams and takes stronger action against those who abuse or endanger its staff.
Veolia says whilst the majority of people are respectful of frontline staff, a rise in the most serious cases of physical and verbal abuse has led to a new commitment from the company to pursue more prosecutions.
It added there have been cases of frustration at being behind a collection vehicle or road sweeper are not reasons to abuse key workers, and the company is reaffirming its support to staff who are victims of abuse.
Shaun Donohue, general manager for North and Midlands at Veolia said: “Our staff provide a high standard of vital work in the community ensuring that recycling and waste is collected in a safe and timely manner, and the streets within the borough are kept in good condition.
“No one should experience abuse at work, and we are committed to tackling this issue and supporting our staff through our StreetKind campaign.”
This comes after the success of SiteKind, which was introduced at Bickenhill Household Waste and Recycling Centre in October 2022, Veolia has now launched StreetKind to both thank residents who recognise the hard work of its teams across Solihull and take stronger action against those who abuse or endanger its staff.
Councillor Ken Hawkins, cabinet member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “I’m pleased to say that the vast majority of our residents are polite and courteous to our staff, but unfortunately some people are abusive.
“Nobody should face abuse or feel threatened at work. The council fully supports Veolia’s training programme and both their SiteKind and StreetKind campaigns to end abuse.”
