GARDEN waste collection services have been temporarily suspended by Redditch Borough Council to strengthen the delivery of its core waste service.
The garden waste service will be postponed for four weeks, the equivalent of two collections, from Tuesday, October 12, so crews can continue to maintain domestic waste and dry recycling services.
The move comes as the service continues to struggle with crews needing to isolate where required, and usual absences due to the heavy physical nature of the work.
As a result, the teams which would normally deliver the garden waste services will be utilised to help maintain staffing levels for grey and green collections to ensure continuity in these priority services.
In addition to the garden waste suspension, the environmental services department will be recruiting extra staff and arranging for additional agency staff to ensure the reinstatement of the garden waste service, reduce the risk of future disruption, and to maintain adequate staffing throughout the winter.
The council said the garden waste service would be extended through December so that all 20 of the paid-for collections could be honoured.
The authority said it would be writing to its garden waste customers to advise of the postponement.
“Local authorities around the country are having to make difficult decisions in the wake of the pandemic to ensure the resilience of vital services,” said council Leader Matt Dormer.
“We have explored all possible options but without intervention now the service is at high risk of failure, so this is not a decision we have made lightly.
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience it will cause to our garden waste users, but this minor suspension will mean longer term stability for every resident.”
