Highland Council announces normal service to resume soon for garden waste brown bin collections
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Garden waste collections across the Highlands are set to resume next month for householders who have a permit for the fortnightly service.
Highland Council has announced collections will begin again from Monday, May 11.
Eligible residents are urged to check their calendars for their collection day.
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Carron McDiarmid, of the council's communities and place department, said: “It has been a challenge to deliver services during these exceptionally testing times and I’m very pleased to announce that the garden waste collection service can return to some normality.
"Your patience and understanding has been most appreciated whilst we have had to prioritise delivery of other essential services.
“The garden waste collection service was suspended on Monday, March 23, due to the impact of Covid-19 on staff resources. The Highland Council is currently operating with a shortfall of approximately 30 to 40 per cent in waste operations staff and therefore priority was given to the collection of statutory household rubbish (green bin), recycling (blue bin) and food waste collections in Inverness.
"The staffing situation has now been reviewed and additional staff resources have been identified which now allows for the recommencement of the garden waste collection service.”
Councillor Allan Henderson, chairman of the communities and place committee, said: “Arrangements were able to be finalised yesterday so I look forward to the service starting up from Monday, May 11.
"Some people may not be sure which is their collection week, so I strongly urge permit holders to check their calendars on the Highland Council website and share this information with their immediate neighbours where possible.”
When the collections resume there will have been three to four missed brown bin collections depending on the collection week.
To compensate residents for these missed collections the current collection permits will be extended by a period of nine weeks beyond their current expiry date at the end of June.
All current permits are now valid until the end of August.
The brown bins must be presented with a valid permit and the bin lids fully closed. No extra side waste will be collected.
The collection service is for the recycling of the following from gardens: grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, twigs and small branches, flowers, plants and weeds.
Residents are asked to check the contents of their bin to ensure it contains no contamination and, to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, the public should regularly clean their bin handles and lids as well as washing their hands before and after touching their bins.
Crews are operating safe distancing procedures due to the continuing threat of Covid-19, which may mean collections take longer to complete than usual. Bins should be left out by 7am on the scheduled collection day.
Collections may also be suspended at short notice if there are further circumstances outwith the council's control and customers are advised to regularly check the council’s website for updates.
While the garden waste collection service will resume the public are being reminded that all Highland Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) remain closed due to the government’s decision to restrict all but non-essential movement.
Residents are being asked to act responsibly by not putting waste which may have been taken to a HWRC in household bins as it may overwhelm collection services.
In addition, householders are advised to avoid carrying out large DIY projects or spring cleans unless they have space to store the waste.
