Published: 15/07/2021
A STEEP rise in the number of staff isolating due to Covid-19 has forced Copeland Council to suspend its garden waste collections for two weeks.
From Monday, July 19, there will be no garden waste collections for a fortnight. The change will not be shown on residents’ online calendars.
The situation will be assessed daily and subject to staffing levels improving and stabilising, collections will restart after the two-week suspension.
Copeland's Community Services Manager, Shirley Procter-Dow, said: “We will keep residents fully updated about when the service will start again.
"Sadly our staff are not immune from the virus. We have very large numbers isolating either because they have Covid, or have been in close contact with someone who has it. Coupled with ‘normal’ absence through sickness, annual leave etc, this is affecting our ability to complete recycling and waste collections.
“Suspending garden collections for a short time isn't something we want to do, and we'll be getting back to normal as soon as possible - our aim is to begin again in the week beginning August 2."
The move means the council can concentrate its depleted resources on household refuse and recycling collections until the staffing situation improves.
Director of Corporate Services and Commercial Strategy, Sarah Pemberton, added: "We’re very grateful for everyone’s patience as we all work together to get through the huge challenges this virus has presented us with. We will keep things under daily review and restart normal collections as soon as possible.
"We are giving our staff as much support and reassurance as they need."
