Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
PILING UP
Bins overflow as collections end
‘We are doing our best with the extra staff and vehicles we have been able to secure’
The suspension of garden waste collections and closure of council-run tips has left bins overflowing across the district.
County and city council bosses were forced to take action in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving residents having to find alternative ways of disposing of their green rubbish. Many have opted to use private firms to empty their bins, while there has been a reported increase in bonfires and fly-tipping. Canterbury City Council said this week the green waste collections will remain suspended for the foreseeable future, but has attempted to mitigate the effects.
It is now allowing two extra black bags of household or garden waste - but not recycling - to be put out on normal collection days, but picked up separately to bins with the help of waste firm Viridor. The council says material in the bags will be mixed as it “isn’t possible” to separate the two - a factor it admits “is not ideal” but needs to be accepted in the circumstances. Spokesman Rob Davies said: “We are doing our best with the extra staff and vehicles we have been able to secure from Viridor - it’s not a perfect arrangement but it gives residents some help at a difficult time. Garden waste is being taken with household waste in this temporary side waste service.
“We only have three extra vehicles and these are all trade waste trucks, so separation isn’t possible. Some people may not like that, and we would accept it is not ideal, but we are in an emergency situation.
“This ‘side waste’ will be allowed at each weekly collection regardless of whether it is black bin or recycling week. “If you put out more than two extra sacks, we will only take two of them. This is to make sure that we can collect everyone’s waste.
“If, sadly, we do not manage to get to your sacks, please do not report them as a missed collection. Instead, take them back inside and try again the following week.”
The extra sack collections will be in place for at least two more weeks until the system is reviewed by council bosses. Mr Davies says it is impossible to say when normal green bin collections will return and if a planned yearly fee of £45 will be imposed.
“It’s been suspended as there are not enough staff at Serco to run the service due to sickness and self-isolation,” he said. “Priority is being given to black bin and recycling collections.
“We cannot use the three extra vehicles for garden bins because trade waste trucks have a different lifting mechanism that does not work with household bins. “Ultimately, the solution to the current waste issues lies with the reopening of the tips, and the government has said it expects all currently closed tips to reopen in the coming weeks.”
As a result of the continued suspension, opportunist Ronald Rumball - the boss of Clear & Tidy Kent - is offering to empty residents’ green bins for £15.
The Whitstable-based dadof-six is operating across the district while adhering to social distancing rules. “I had to adapt as - like everyone else - the business was struggling,” he said. “So with the council not doing green bins, I came up with the idea to empty them. Business has been steady so far and the feedback has all been positive. “Anyone who wants their garden waste bin emptied should get in contact - and I also clear any household waste.
“I take bookings for Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”
It is not known when KCC waste and recycling centres will reopen, but it is considering a booking system.