Waste & Recycling

Cotswold District Council has announced that fortnightly garden waste collections will restart from Wednesday 13 May.

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”.

They are now able to resume garden waste collections and they will be operating to the published collection schedule. For us in Northleach that will be Friday 15th May.

“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.

Cotswold District Council confirms there are no changes to recycling and general household waste collections over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Residents are asked to present their bins and containers as per their regular collection schedule.  Remember the Garden Waste service is still currently suspended.
The Council is calling on residents to do all they can to limit waste and recycling presented for collection so that crews can keep up with demand and provide the safest and best possible service.
To ensure services continue safely and promptly the Council urges residents to properly sort their recycling and to fill containers carefully.
Well sorted recycling means crews can make collections more quickly and helps limit their contact with waste. Please use the pre-sorting guidance found on the council website: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/what-to-put-in-your-bin/

Households are also being advised to choose products that have less packaging in order to reduce waste.

Ubico staff are working hard with a reduced workforce to complete collections and the much higher volumes of recycling being presented stretch their capacity. This leads to missed rounds when the collection vehicles capacity has been reached.
Councillor Andrew Doherty, Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling, said: “I’d like to thank our waste crews for keeping collections running as smoothly as possible during these times.”
“We’re doing everything we can to reduce the risk to them and the wider public and I hope people recognise the challenges our workforce faces.
“Our collection crews are key workers providing an essential service to the district and we need to have stringent measures in place to reduce the risk to them and residents. Please show your support for the crews who are working hard through challenging times by following the guidance and instructions that we provide.”
“The majority of issues with collections are due to the very high volumes currently being presented and I ask residents to take extra care to limit the amount of waste and recycling you present at the kerbside. Please help us to help you.”

Covid-19 – Important Safety Advice for presenting waste

You MUST separately bag potentially personal waste (like tissues) and cleaning products (disposable cleaning cloths). Leave that bag aside for at least 72 hours before placing in your residual waste bin.
Please don’t put your used tissues in the paper recycling box – even if no-one in your household is showing symptoms. Used tissues are unhygienic, potentially infectious and an unnecessary health risk for our crews. Used tissues are not recyclable.
If anyone in your household is showing Covid-19 symptoms you must follow the Public Health England guidance on disposing of your waste.

Contact Information
For media enquiries, please contact the Communications Team
press@cotswold.gov.uk

Please see the documents below for more information:

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