GARDEN waste collections across Basingstoke and Deane are set to resume for existing customers this month as staffing levels begin to stabilise following the COVID-19 outbreak.

The fortnightly garden waste service, which has over 12,000 customers signed up, will restart as of Monday, June 15, as part of a plan agreed by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) and Hart District Council, working with waste collection contractor Serco.

It follows the reintroduction of the council’s bulky waste collection service and deliveries of bins and glass containers in May.

The staggered approach has seen those services requiring the fewest staff brought back online first to ensure the existing waste, recycling and clinical waste services can be maintained for the duration of the pandemic.

Waste collections, which were reduced to a fortnightly collection on Monday, April 20, and have the biggest impact on staffing, will remain on the current collection schedule until both the council and Serco are confident the weekly service can be sustained by the crews during the pandemic.

Following the suspension of the service in March, all existing garden waste customers will receive a letter advising them that the service is restarting. This will include information on their collection date, frequently asked questions including details regarding the extension of their annual subscription.

Customers are asked not to overfill their bags or bins as they will be too heavy for the crews to collect. No new customers can be accepted to the service at this time but this will be reviewed.

Monitoring of the services and staffing numbers affected by self-isolation will continue to take place. If a reliable service cannot be maintained or if waste, recycling or clinical waste services are affected, these services could be suspended again.

Cabinet member for environment and enforcement, Councillor Hayley Eachus said: “During this crisis we have had to take difficult decisions to suspend or reduce services to protect our bin crews, lower the risk of spreading the virus and allow our crews to focus all their efforts on delivering a reliable and sustainable waste, recycling and clinical waste service for the duration of the pandemic.

“We have been closely monitoring staffing levels and planning how we can resume services for our residents and I’m pleased we are able to bring back garden waste collections. The bulky waste collection service has also been incredibly popular since its reintroduction.

“We are not yet in a position to reinstate our weekly waste collection but are monitoring this closely and will restore this service as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Cllr Eachus also thanked staff and residents for their efforts and understanding during the crisis, adding: “This has been an incredibly challenging time for everyone and I would like to thank our bin crews again for their tremendous hard work during this crisis.

“I would also like to thank our residents for their understanding and ongoing support and apologise for the disruption to our services during this time.”