Garden waste collections across Allerdale will be resumed from Monday, May 11, 2020.
The council is pleased to announce that the service will be resumed in full meaning residents’ green waste will be picked up every fortnight on the day their collections are currently scheduled for.
Collections were suspended on March 23, 2020, in order to help safeguard the council’s waste crews and protect the other collections, such as domestic waste, during the coronavirus outbreak. All other collections were unaffected.
The suspension was originally due to be reviewed in June, however, the council has fortunately been able to put the necessary measures in place to resume collections earlier than expected.
Residents across Allerdale are asked to play their part in helping the collections to resume smoothly by:
- Only placing one garden waste bin out for collection – crews will be unable to collect more than one per property.
- Making sure their bin is not too heavy – this normally happens if a container is filled with soil. Collection vehicles have an automatic weight restriction fitted which identifies any bin which is too heavy for the lifting equipment.
- Continuing to clean bin handles before and after collection and washing their hands after touching a bin to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Mike Johnson, deputy leader of Allerdale Borough Council, said: “The crews from Allerdale Waste Services have been working exceptionally hard over the last few weeks to keep collections going in challenging circumstances. I want to thank them for carrying out their work with the upmost professionalism and maintaining social distancing as much as possible.
“I also want to thank members of the public for playing their part by for showing so much support to our crews as they carried on working for our communities. We understand that some inconvenience may have been caused by the suspension, so we thank everyone in Allerdale for bearing with us while these measures were in place.”
Anyone with excess green waste is asked to store it at home until their next collection or to consider home composting as an alternative. A discounted compost bin can be bought through Cumbria County Council at http://www.recycleforcumbria.org/inthegarden/default.asp.
Tony Markley, the council’s Executive member for environmental services, said: “The work our crews have been doing has been remarkable in recent weeks so we’re now asking that members of the public help them by only placing out the one garden bin and ensuring it isn’t too heavy to collect. By doing this we can all help the ensure there is enough capacity for everyone’s green waste to be picked up.”
Mark Jenkinson, MP for Workington said: “A large number of my constituents do not have room to store or compost garden waste.
“Government guidance recognises the potential need for temporary cessation of garden waste collections and grades garden waste as low priority- preferring the Household Waste Recycling Centres to be operational.
“In Cumbria, there has been added pressure on those who have garden waste as the HWRCs have been closed by Cumbria County Council. This action has been taken, despite clear Government guidance to remain open whilst social distancing guidance is maintained.
“I asked Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria County Council to reach a satisfactory conclusion for my constituents as regards the disposal of garden waste whilst lockdown continues. I understand the added pressure that Allerdale have experienced with increased amounts of kerbside waste and clearing up fly tipping activity.
“Allerdale have once again picked up the mantle to ensure that my constituents are supported through this pandemic.”
The Household Waste Recycling Centres (commonly known as tips) are run by Cumbria County Council and remain closed temporarily. For updates on these please go to https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/serviceupdates.asp.
To check what day your bin is collected on go to our online calendar at https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/bincollections/.
