A dispute with staff over working arrangements and a re-structuring of bin rounds have led to a backlog of 4,000 requests to Redcar and Cleveland Council to remove heavy items from homes.
The council's Junk Job service deals with 30,000 requests a year to collect residents' rubbish, ranging from black bags of garden rubbish to three-piece suites.
Coun Sylvia Szintai apologised for the delays and said the scheme's popularity had added to the problem.
Once the backlog is cleared, the council will slot requests into 14-day cycles. There are also plans to introduce an appointments system.
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