Green bin service: Holiday changes

One collection of garden and food waste suspended

WEST Berkshire Council has announced a temporary suspension of garden and food waste collections over the Christmas and New Year period.

From December 28 to January 8 next year, the green bin garden and food waste collection service – for one collection – will be suspended.

All services will resume as normal from January 10 in the new year.

West Berkshire Council said that this suspension will free up more drivers and operatives to ensure that the black rubbish bins and recycling (green boxes and bag) services continue as scheduled throughout the busy Christmas period and new year.

The council said: “We will collect up to three opentopped bags of excess garden waste in addition to the green bin on your first collection following the resumption of the service.

“Please note that this is effectively a delayed collection and garden waste customers will not miss out on the usual amount of collections.”

The council said it is not able to offer refunds for the chargeable garden waste service.

It has also offered options for residents to discard their garden and food waste if they cannot wait for the service to resume.

For garden and Christmas tree waste, residents can either home compost or dispose of their real trees at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs), free of charge.

Appointments need to be booked at westberks.gov.uk/ clickandtip prior to the visit.

Real Christmas trees will still be collected when services resume and residents have been advised to keep them close to their property until the collections restart.

However, it is also advised to avoid blocking pavements and footpaths with them.

Residents have been urged to reduce their food waste reduction over the holiday season and beyond, again home composting has been suggested.

Any food waste in green bins will be collected when the service resumes.

However, if residents would rather dispose of food waste sooner, the council said it can be temporarily taken to its HWRCs for disposal.

It said: “We have liaised with our contractor for special containers to be placed in area 2 at the Newtown Road, Newbury and Padworth HWRCs from Monday, December 20, 2021, until the suspension period is over.

“Please ensure you book an appointment via westberks. gov.uk/clickandtip before you visit.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this suspension and thank you for your continued understanding.”

More information about this temporary service suspension can be found on the council’s website at https:// www.westberks.gov.uk/suspensionFAQ