14.01.2021

"I wanted to update you all on how our waste teams are doing removing any remaining Christmas waste from the city's streets and to take this opportunity to thank the public again for their continued patience.

"I am pleased to report that the recycling (green bags), food waste and general waste collections are now up-to-date. Our crews have been working hard to catch-up, but losing around 17% of our staff to COVID-19, combined with the large amounts of extra waste left out over the Christmas period, did put the teams under significant pressure.

"Unfortunately, we are now three days behind on green waste collections, but every effort Is being made to remove this waste by the end of the weekend.

"I know some residents are seeing Christmas trees being picked up but green bins being left behind and are wondering why? The reason is that our street cleansing staff have been re-deployed to collect Christmas trees on flatbed trucks. Green wheelie bins still have to be collected by a Refuse Collection Vehicle (RCV).

"Given this, we want to reassure residents that if their Christmas tree has been collected, but their green wheelie bin hasn't, please don't be concerned. Your green bin will be collected by a separate vehicle, as soon as we can get to it.

"Although we are catching up on rounds we still need residents to put their Christmas tree and their green wheelie bin out for collection on the day that has been advertised and it will be collected as soon as we can get to it.

"If your collection has been missed, please leave the green wheelie bin and your Christmas tree on the kerbside until they are collected.

"If residents do have a missed waste collection for food waste, recycling (green bags) or general waste, please notify the council through the usual channels.

"Residents are also asked to continue to put their non-green waste out for collection on their normal collection days. If we clear the backlog of green waste and Christmas trees this weekend, we hope to return to normal service next week.

"A further update will be given to residents via social media on Monday, January 18^th."