Council suspends garden waste collection service

A council has announced this week that it will be suspending garden waste collection services for at least a month due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Wealden District Council said it regretted it had been forced to take the decision due to staff sickness and self isolation in relation to the pandemic.

A spokesperson said, “The council and our waste contractor Biffa have taken the difficult decision to suspend garden waste collections beginning Monday March 30 until at least Friday April 24.

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“The suspension will be kept under review and we will continue to work with the waste contractor to reinstate this service as soon as possible. We must do this in order to prioritise our waste and recycling collections.

“We hope customers will understand this is unavoidable and in the best interests of public health in the unusual circumstances we all face. We are also working on how we will catch up with collections and any other implications for customers. Further information on this will follow in due course.”

The council has also warned people that with all waste recycling centres currently closed, people should compost at home if possible and not be tempted to fly-tip.

The spokesperson said, “Although it is tempting to do gardening following the government’s advice to stay at home please help us by avoiding creating unnecessary waste until the service resumes or the tips can reopen. Please do not place garden waste in refuse or recycling bins because it will not be emptied. Where possible please compost at home.

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“Don’t be tempted to fly tip. Most residents in Wealden are very responsible, but for your information fly tipping is an offence and offenders will be prosecuted.”

The council says the sign up process for the garden waste service from July 1 2020 opens on April 1 and will still go ahead.

People can sign up between then and June 8 to ensure they receive the licence label for the bin for collections in July.

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