Driver shortage halts garden waste service in district
CUSTOMERS ENTITLED TO THREE-MONTH EXTENSION
A DISTRICT council in Hampshire has suspended all garden waste collections as the national HGV driver shortage affects services.
Hart District Council announced on Tuesday October 5 that it would be temporarily suspending garden waste collections to prioritise waste and recycling collection services from Monday, October 11.
A number of driver vacancies that are normally filled by contractor Serco through agencies have been unable to be filled, meaning the decision has been taken to suspend services across Hart in areas including Fleet and Yateley.
Serco will, however, continue to catch up on garden waste collections that were due during the week commencing September 13, to ensure that all customers have received one collection during this time.
All existing garden waste customers will be contacted by letter to advise them of the pause in service.
The missed collections will be added to customer accounts by the way of a three-month extension, equivalent to six collections, to their service renewal date.
However, it is important that customers renew their subscription to ensure that the missed collections are added as extensions can only be applied to active garden waste accounts.
Customers who do not want to renew their subscription at the renewal date will instead be entitled to refund for periods where the service was suspended during their subscription period in 2021 for a maximum of six collections.
Residents who take this option will not be able to re-join the service until Serco has re-opened the service to new customers. This has been temporarily suspended until service delivery to existing customers can be guaranteed.
Councillor Alan Oliver, cabinet member for environment at Hart District Council, said: “After reinstating the service four weeks ago, we have experienced driver shortages which have resulted in only 25% of rounds collected on some days. We have been working alongside Serco to promote local job opportunities – however, the national driver shortage has not helped the situation.
“I’m pleased that we can offer customers a three-month extension, or a refund if they don’t want to renew, as an apology for the disruption this has caused, and we will do everything we can in our power to get the service reinstated as soon as possible.”
The situation will be regularly reviewed by Hart District Council.