The outsourcing giant, paid £88million to manage Basingstoke and Hart's bin collections, has denied the allegations, insisting stringent safety measures are in place.

Tyrone Bailey, 23, told The Gazette he feels compelled to speak out after feeling "unsafe" and "uncomfortable" working at the Wade Road depot, where several crews are currently self-isolating.

He claimed: "I walked out of the yard on Friday because I didn't want to go out with another crew. I didn't feel safe or comfortable."

Being sacked felt like a "kick in the teeth" for 23-year-old Tyrone Bailey

"It's got the the point where they were trying to put different people, every day, on different rounds. Me [and a colleague] told Serco that they are going to make people ill. What they are doing is dangerous.

"[Our concerns] get completely brushed under the carpet, they tell us to do as we're told and now we have about three or four crews isolating with Covid that's why the domestic and recycle rounds are behind."

The 23-year-old found out he was fired on Monday morning after working for the company as an agency worker since October.

The asthmatic, who lives with his clinically vulnerable mother in Popley, said being fired after raising concerns felt like a “kick in the teeth”.

He added: “[Serco] need to take it more seriously and put the health and safety of their staff actually into consideration and not just use us like we are expendable toys that are easily replaceable.”

Serco has refuted all of Mr Bailey's claims with contract manager for Hart and Basingstoke & Deane, Paul Barry, saying: “We have a comprehensive range of Covid measures in place to protect our teams and the wider public.

Serco was paid £88million to provide waste services in Basingstoke and Hart

"These measures follow and are in-line with Government guidance and include additional precautions where we deem it necessary. The measures are many and include the use of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitiser, additional cleaning regimes, enhanced airflow and virtual meetings.

"All team members, including agency staff, who work for Serco at Hart and Basingstoke & Deane are required to follow the Covid measures which are enforced through regular spot-checks, regular communications and where necessary disciplinary action.”

A spokesperson for the company added: “All team members that cannot maintain social distancing from other individuals in performing their duties are required to wear face masks. This is enforced across the contract through spot-checks, regular communications and where necessary disciplinary action. Where social distancing is not possible for instance in the cab of a vehicles, individuals are required to wear a face mask.”

When The Gazette asked if the company inform employees of their need to self-isolate, they responded: “This is incorrect. We operate within the guidance. All individuals who have been in contact with someone who is either showing symptoms or had a positive Covid-19 test is quickly identified and told to self-isolate for 10 days, in line with the company guidelines. All drivers are required to clean the hard surfaces of the vehicles down prior to and after each use. Additionally, all vehicles are given a deep clean if any suspected positive or confirmed cases of Covid-19 are reported. Fogging machines are also used to assist with this.”

Cllr Hayley Eachus, pictured, said she was unable to comment on individual cases

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet member for recycling and waste Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “The council is unable to comment the specific allegations made by this ex-employee. However Serco has provided assurances that all appropriate COVID safety measures are in place and that they are regularly monitored and reviewed.”

The fortnightly garden waste collection is a subscription-only service that costs up to £60 per year and has been temporarily suspended in order to “protect” waste and recycling collections.

The borough council said in a statement that one member of the waste collection crew tested positive for Covid-19 last week (July 22), without having any symptoms.

As a result, he is self-isolating for ten days, as well as the crews that he worked with on Wednesday and Thursday.

This has led to a staffing shortage in the waste collection team, and BDBC has made the decision to suspend fortnightly garden waste collections in order to “protect” waste and recycling collections.

No garden waste collections will be carried out this week, due to staffing levels.