Tewkesbury Borough Council is continuing the suspension of its garden waste collection service.
The council anticipates having the service back up and running very soon, but in the meantime, is grateful to customers who have shown their support and understanding to waste crews during this uncertain time.
The decision to continue the suspension follows a review of how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting waste and recycling collection services across the borough.
The council’s waste and recycling contractors, Ubico, will continue to focus its efforts on completing statutory collections (i.e. refuse, food waste, recycling and litter bins), and is continuing to suspend non-essential collections to allow for drivers and crews taking time off to self-isolate if needed.
Councillor Jim Mason, lead member for clean and green environment, said: “Ensuring the wellbeing of collection crews, who are key workers and not immune to this terrible virus, is an absolute priority. Ubico is doing a fantastic job of keeping statutory waste and recycling collection services going under very difficult circumstances and I echo the many messages of support and gratitude that crews have received from residents.
“I want to thank our garden waste club members for their understanding, patience and flexibility. We will get the service back up and running as soon as we can, but in the meantime, please hang on to your garden waste and store it wisely.”
Here are some helpful tips to help manage garden waste until the service resumes:
• Don’t lighting bonfires. Many people - especially those with Covid-19 symptoms, underlying health conditions or respiratory illnesses - are having to self-isolate and could be seriously affected by the smoke.
• Prop your brown bin lid open slightly and keep it in the shade to reduce odour.
• Dry out any new garden waste (grass clippings, for example) and store in a heap or in a bag until services are up and running again.
• Consider home composting - this is one of the most effective ways to minimise the amount of waste going to landfill and it will also act as a great fertiliser for your plants next year.
The council will review the price for the garden waste service for next year’s subscriptions, based on the length of the current suspension, to ensure that customers don’t lose out.”
The bulky waste collection service, used to collect large items residents are unable to transport to the tip themselves, has also been suspended. The grounds maintenance service has also been scaled back to essential grass cutting needed for safety and keeping the cemeteries looking neat.
For updates on waste and recycling services, please visit tewkesbury.gov.uk or follow Tewkesbury Borough on Facebook and @TewkesburyBCgov on Twitter.
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