• Green bin collections across Reading temporarily paused due to a high number of staff having to self-isolate
• Aim for collections to resume mid-August if situation continues to improve
• Other bin collections of residual waste, recycling and food waste have continued as normal
• Green bin subscriptions will be extended to cover any weeks missed

Reading Borough Council is hopeful of restarting its green waste collections by mid-August, after the effects on staffing levels of workers self-isolating forced a pause to collections in mid-July.

The move, which started on Monday 19 July, was needed to focus resources and safeguard the priority collections of residual waste and recycling, including food waste collections, which have remained unaffected.

Subscribers to the green waste scheme will not lose out financially. Their subscription period will be automatically extended to cover any weeks missed.

Now, with some additional successful recruitment to the waste team and an ease in the number of staff isolating, the Council is hopeful of resuming the service around 16^th August, should the situation continue to improve.

In the meantime, residents can book slots at the re3 centre in Island Road to dispose of their garden waste. re3 will be making more slots available during the period that the green waste service is suspended. Any visits must be booked in advance at https://re3.fccenvironment.co.uk/click-tip-services/

With over 500,000 people nationwide receiving alerts to self-isolate in the first week of July alone, many businesses and councils are suffering from staffing problems and service disruption. This continued impact of COVID-19 means Reading Borough Council is currently operating with a significant reduction in waste drivers and loaders.

Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Neighbourhoods and Communities, said:

“I’m heartened to hear that the situation has improved, thanks to the hard work of the team recruiting new members of staff and thankfully, fewer staff needing to isolate. Should the situation continue to improve, we are very hopeful to resume the garden waste service as soon as possible around 16 August.

“We absolutely appreciate this is a busy time of year for gardeners and it will cause obvious inconvenience, but we were left with very little option but to focus remaining resources on ensuring residual, recycling and food waste collections can continue.

“Councils across the country are experiencing disruption to waste collection services caused by the increasing number of Covid cases and consequent rise in people having to self-isolate. In Reading, we are doing everything we can to keep essential services going for our residents and minimise disruption to collections.

“The pause in green waste collections has protected household waste and recycling collections. So much has been going on behind the scenes to keep vital services going, such as working additional hours, moving drivers from other areas to work on collections, and redeploying office staff to support the frontline. I am proud of the efforts of the team.

“I would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding as we work towards resuming a full service to them as soon as possible, with garden waste subscriptions automatically extended to cover any weeks missed.”

If you are an LGV driver who wants to make a difference and are looking for local work with regular hours, you can contact Reading Borough Council’s call centre on 01189 373787.