Cardiff Council has announced changes to a number of its services as it moves towards focussing on delivering essential services to protect the elderly and the most vulnerable in the city during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Waste collections:

• Garden waste collections will be suspended from Monday 23 until further notice;
• Every attempt will be made to collect any green waste which hasn't been collected from households since Tuesday. However, if your garden waste has not been collected by Sunday evening, please take it back into your property. Garden waste can be brought to either Lamby Way or Bessemer Close HWRC;
• Bulky collections that have already been booked for next week will take place, but bulky collections will cease from next Friday, March 27 until further notice;
• Separate Glass collections will stop tomorrow, Friday, March 20, until further notice. This only affects 17,000 households that took part in the separate glass recycling trial. These households can now put their glass into green recycling bags.

Libraries and hubs: 

• All libraries will close tomorrow (Friday, March 20). Library users will still be able to access free digital services including e-books, e-audio books, e-magazines and online newspapers
• With the exception of collecting green recycling bags and food waste bags, community hubs will operate on an appointment only basis and customers will need to contact the Council's Advice number on 02920 871071 to make an appointment. 

Housing Options and Homelessness service 

• The Housing Options and Homelessness Service will now only be able to be accessed by appointment only. Anyone requiring assistance should contact the council via telephone on 02920 570750 or email Housingoptionscentre@cardiff.gov.uk
• The Council's Independent Living Service is the first point of contact for support and advice for elderly and disabled people and this can continue to be accessed via telephone by calling 02920 234234.
• Cardiff's Family Advice and Support Service will continue to operate. The service is available by phone on 03000 133133 or via email contactfas@cardiff.gov.uk or visit www.cardifffamilies.co.uk
• Anyone with concerns about the safety of a child should contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 02920 536490 or out of hours on 02920 788570. If a child is in immediate danger of being harmed, call 999.

Cllr Huw Thomas, Leader of Cardiff Council said: "The Council along with everyone else is working in unprecedented times. Our priority is to safeguard our essential services, the services which protect the vulnerable and at risk. 

"A great deal of planning has taken place to ensure that these vital services can continue to be delivered. Some of these planned changes are now being implemented as we move, like other organisations UK-wide, to more homeworking and an inevitable reduction in workforce caused by the virus. 

"I want you to know we are doing everything in our power to ensure that we can provide continuity of essential services for residents throughout. 

"We realise, too, that a great deal of residents want to do their bit to help and we will soon be launching Together For Cardiff, designed to bring volunteers together in a cohesive way so they can make a real impact as we battle the outbreak. Please keep following us on social media for regular updates."