Suspension of Recycling & Garden Waste bin collections

Announcement from Newark and Sherwood District Council on Friday 27th March 2020

It is with deep regret that, with effect from Monday 30th March, collections of recycling (silver bin) and garden (brown bin) waste will temporarily cease across Newark and Sherwood.

This is to ensure that collections of the critical waste (green/black bin) and medical waste can be prioritised at this challenging time. We apologise sincerely for the inconvenience this will inevitably cause.

The reduction of any service for residents is unfortunate but unavoidable in this instance due to the necessary social distancing measures for waste crews.

Our cabins are just over two metres wide and normally seat three operatives when driving between rounds. In order for our staff to keep a safe distance from each other and help to reduce the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19), it has been necessary to reorganise our operating model. There has also been a notable increase in recent weeks of soiled tissues being placed in recycling bins which contaminates the whole bin. In the current climate, this is putting our staff and other residents at increased potential health risk.

By temporarily suspending collections of recycling and garden waste, NSDC can adhere to social distancing measures for its staff, help to keep them and residents safe, and still maintain the critical waste (green/black bin) collections. Waste crews are already going above and beyond in their duties and we all want to keep them as safe as possible.

Temporarily, people should place their recycling waste in with their critical waste (green/black bin). Any residents who have subscribed to the garden waste collection service by 1st April 2020, will receive a reduced rate if they choose to continue with this service in 2021-22.

We remain firmly committed to recycling efforts and to our Cleaner, Safer and Greener policy but, in theses unprecedented times, this action has been unavoidable.

We will of course keep our operating model under review in line with social distancing measures and continue to explore alternative solutions where feasible. We will provide updates regularly and will take every measure we can to clear any backlogs of waste when the current advice is relaxed.

Residents should continue to put their critical waste (green/black bin) out for collection on their normal days by 6.00am.

We thank you for your cooperation.