There’s good news for people in southern Oxfordshire looking for ways to dispose safely of their garden waste. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils have reopened their paid-for garden waste service to new customers.
The service has continued throughout the lockdown for existing subscribers and for a short period of time the council and waste contractor, Biffa suspended taking on new customers to prioritise the kerbside household collections while members of the waste collection crews were off sick or self-isolating.
Biffa has now built up sufficient resilience in its workforce to enable new customers to join*.
South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for housing and the environment, Cllr David Rouane said: “Our priority has been to maintain essential services throughout the difficult weeks and months ahead. It was essential we ensured we could cope with the service to existing customers before taking on new ones.”
Vale of White Horse District Council cabinet member for housing and the environment, Cllr Jenny Hannaby said: “We have listened to people who have been in touch recently who wished to take up the service. We realise that not everyone can compost at home, which is why we are pleased to be able to offer the service to new customers.”
- The service will also take extra garden waste (equivalent of another brown bin eg three bin bags) on the following collection week - 18-22 May
* The situation is being regularly monitored and residents should be aware that if staffing levels fall taking on new customers may need to be suspended again.
