DISTRICT RUBBISH COLLECTIONS SUSPENDED

Following several accidents and injuries involving members of the refuse collection teams, all waste and recycling collections have been suspended throughout the district. The collection crews are facing severe difficulties in providing the service due to the very dangerous conditions which exist on many of the district’s roads and pavements. During the suspension of normal operations the Council have diverted resources to the gritting of town centres and secondary shopping areas.

They will continue to monitor the situation carefully and recommence waste and refuse collections as soon as it is safe to do so. Prioritised collections will take place so that those properties that have been waiting the longest for a collection are dealt with first.

Councillor Mary Sartin, Environment Portfolio Holder said: “I would like to express my thanks and concern for the waste collection crews. They have done everything possible to keep collections going but conditions have become too dangerous. Refuse and recycling collections will recommence as soon as it is safe. In the meantime I would like to thank residents for their continuing patience and support.”

REFUSE COLLECTION RULES SUSPENDED

Epping Forest District Council have announced today that they are suspending their standard rules on refuse collection to help ease the backlog of waste created over the Christmas period, which was impacted badly by the recent weather conditions.

The statement issued says: “The Council has suspended its normal rules on the putting out of side waste and will take away all waste put out for collection until the backlog has been cleared. Residents are reminded that dry recycling (including glass) can be put out in any container (except a black plastic sack) and the crews will collect it. Christmas trees will also be collected as part of the food and garden service, provided that they are not taller than, or have been cut down into pieces of, not more than four feet (1.2 metres). Residents are requested to continue to separate their recycling as this is particularly important at this time of year due to the volumes of glass, plastic and paper packaging in the waste stream.”