Garden waste collection service to resume in Stafford

The brown bin service was temporarily suspended to ensure household waste and recycling were prioritised after a significant reduction in crews due to the coronavirus crisis.

Waste contractors Veolia have confirmed that a number of members of crew are now returning to work following a period of self-isolation – and in addition the council has said some of their streetscene staff who hold HGV licences are being retrained to be able to help with collections.

A letter is being sent to every household in the borough to let people know about the return of the service. And residents are being encouraged to check their bin calendars, or online, to find out when their next scheduled garden waste collection will be from Monday.

Councillor Jonathan Price, cabinet member for environment at Stafford Borough Council welcomed the resumption of the service but sounded a note of caution to households.

He said: “I know it has been difficult for our residents and thank you for your patience, and support for our bin crews, during these very challenging times.

“We said we would bring the garden waste service back as soon as we could and that will now happen on Monday. But we also know this crisis has been fast changing and there are many services we deliver to the public that may be changed at very short notice because of the pandemic.

“We will continue putting information on our website and social media so please share this news to friends and family so that they will not forget to put their brown bins out when it is their scheduled day.”

He added: “I am very grateful to all the bin crews, and the many frontline staff at the council, for the work they are doing in these circumstances and it has also been pleasing to see the fantastic support they have had from our residents.”

The letter, that is being sent out to around 60,000 homes, will also detail a change to the bin service regarding the early May Bank Holiday .

For more information about the recycling and waste service go to staffordbc.gov.uk/binday