But that’s exactly what three members of Ashfield District Council’s Cabinet did recently to learn about the authority’s waste and recycling collection services.

Council Leader, Cllr Jason Zadrozny and Deputy Leader Cllr. Austin Rathe were joined by Cllr. Roberts Sears-Piccavey, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, as they got up at the crack of dawn to accompany the Council’s waste collection crews in Hucknall.

Having completed Health and Safety induction training at the Northern Depot, Sutton-in-Ashfield, they each joined a different crew and spent the day walking the streets of Hucknall emptying ‘green-lidded’ recycling bins and blue boxes.

Cllr Sears-Piccavey said he particularly enjoyed hearing the collection crew’s points of view on their working environment.

“This has been a valuable experience. I’ve enjoyed going out on the bins and working alongside the men. They are as committed to recycling as anyone that I have talked to within the Council and have few, if any, grumbles with their working practices.

He added that it was interesting to see first hand how good the people are at recycling.

“Out of the 1600 bins we checked and emptied there was only one contaminated bin, and I’m told this was from a repeat offended who should know better. The success we enjoy as a council for our recycling rate is down to the people of Ashfield doing the right things, for us, themselves and the environment”.

Meanwhile, Cllr. Austin Rathe, Deputy Leader of the Council, spent a morning on the blue box glass collection round. He said: “I tremendously enjoyed my time with the glass recycling crew, they work incredibly hard and very quickly to deliver an excellent service – I’m glad it wasn’t raining.

“It was also clear to me how enthusiastic the people of Hucknall were to recycle and to look after their environment. Nearly every house had a glass box out and we collected nearly 10 tonnes of glass on the single round, all of which would previously have gone to landfill.

“Ashfield is currently ranked 12th in the country for collecting dry recyclables, which is excellent. We can only go further with the help of the public and our excellent staff”

Leader of the Council, Jason Zadrozny, was amazed by the speed at which the men worked: “The men are very quick and efficient at their job. I struggled to keep up with them at times.

“I was also surprised by the rapport the men have with some of the residents. A lady told me how the crew I was working with had taken time out to explain to her children how to recycle, and why it was important to do so.

“This was very valuable feedback for me, and the whole exercise was a brilliant way of learning first hand about the service – no amount of office based training can beat this sort of experience”.

Photos show Cllr. Jason Zadrozny working on the bin round and Cllr. Austin Rathe with the collection crew.