Garden Waste collection to restart in Cotswold District

Cllr Andrew Doherty, Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling, said: “Over the last few weeks we have needed to use our garden waste vehicles and crews to support the main waste and recycling collections while some staff have had to take time off sick, to self-isolate or to look after loved ones affected by Covid-19. During that time our team has worked hard, alongside our waste partner Ubico, to find a way to return these vehicles and crews to their normal rounds.

“We are now able to resume garden waste collections and they will be operating to the published collection schedule. Customers due for a collection next Wednesday (13th May) will be the first to receive it.

“We know that people may have accumulated green waste during the lockdown and we ask that you continue to keep composting. We’d also like to encourage residents to join in with Plantlife UK’s “No Mow May” (www.plantlife.org.uk/everyflowercounts/) campaign to help wildlife in your garden and lower the demand on the service as we restart it.

“I’d like to thank the 22,000 households who have been affected by the suspension for their patience. I would also commend the crews who have worked tirelessly to keep the essential waste and recycling services running for all 45,000 households in our district.”

The Council has announced that garden waste collections will resume on Wednesday 13 May on the following basis:

• Collections will be operating to the published collection schedule (see calendar);
• The service is available to all customers who hold 2019/20 garden waste licence(s);
• We will only collect what is in the CDC garden waste bins and bags;
• No side waste will be accepted;
• Crew safety means we cannot collect significantly overloaded bins;
• There will be no additional or catch-ups for collections;
• Existing licences have been extended and we will process renewals in June.

Cllr Doherty, added: “We are anticipating a risk that we may not always be able to collect from all properties on their scheduled day. In these circumstances, we advise residents to leave their bins presented until they have been emptied, which should be the next day.”

Gloucestershire County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres are not yet reopening, in line with Government advice around what is and isn’t an essential journey.