Doncaster Council explains why green bin collections have been cancelled

Doncaster Council has explained why it has cancelled green bin collections for the foreseeable future.
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Officials say there has been an increase in waste and recycling items which now match similar levels to the Christmas period.

In order to keep up, bosses said green bin collections would have to be suspended, so staff could focus on more pressing black and blue bin services.

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However, the withdrawal of the service has prompted many complaints with residents staying at home due to the coronavirus lockdown.

green bin collectionsgreen bin collections
green bin collections

Nicer weather and a lack of opportunities to go out and about has resulted in a general increase in gardening activities.

It is also understood the council has fewer staff out collecting due to physical distancing rules, or those who are self-isolating.

The council also said the green bin service is ‘not part of an essential service’ and said council tax rebates would not apply either.

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The council has closed all tips and recycling centres as part of the Covid-19 restrictions.

A council spokesman said: “We are collecting more waste and recycling – the same amount we do every Christmas - so our black and blue bin collection services are working flat out to deal with it.

“This has only been made possible by temporarily suspending green bin collections which are not part of an essential service, as the government has given ‘green waste’ the lowest priority of all the services.

“To complicate things further, we do not have as many crews out collecting – this is simply due to physical distancing rules or staff self-isolating when showing any coronavirus symptoms.

“We have as many crews out as we can.

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“Again, the government has given ‘green waste’ the lowest priority of all the services, so we’re concentrating on blue bins for now until the pressures of the situation we are in start to ease.

“Garden waste collections are not a statutory service, so technically green bin collections are actually provided at no direct charge to Doncaster residents."

For more information visit doncaster.gov.uk