Press Release

2 April 2020

Coronavirus: Council services update

The Council is working hard to ensure refuse and recycling collections continue as normal but extra measures have been put in place to safeguard staff as they work.

Measures will be introduced over the next week to help staff with social distancing. Additional vehicles are being used to travel behind refuse lorries to reduce the number of staff in the cabs and help staff maintain social distance.

Residents are being asked not to fill refuse bins with garden waste, recycling or items which would previously have been taken to recycling centres, to avoid bins becoming too heavy, so collection crews can empty bins safely.

All rubbish must be in sealed bags and contained in the bin with the lid closed and no additional bags should be left on the pavement.

Householders can also help protect Council staff by taking precautions when disposing of their rubbish.

• People with symptoms associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) or self-isolating at home, please seal personal waste such as tissues and disposable cleaning cloths in smaller plastic bags and store them for 72 hours before double bagging your waste and placing it in your refuse bin.
• Recycling must remain loose in the blue-lid bin as usual with the lid closed. No absorbent paper, such as tissue or kitchen towel, is recyclable. Any additional recycling that cannot fit in the bin can be placed in a clear bag and left next to the recycling bin on collection day.
• The garden waste collection service, the fridge/freezer collection and bulky waste service have now been suspended, so the Council can focus on refuse and recycling collections.
• There will be no new bookings taken for fridge/freezer or bulky waste collections until further notice. 
• The collection of textiles from the Salvation Army blue coloured banks located around the Borough has also been suspended. Please do not place any item in the banks or leave bags of textiles on the ground around the banks.
• The glass collection recycling service is continuing currently but residents are asked not to leave glass on the ground around the banks.
• There will be a reduction in grass cutting activities, particularly on the Highway verges. Government advice is that open spaces are to be used for exercise and so staff will continue to cut grass and this will also assist dog owners with the removal of dog waste.

Executive Member for Streetscene for Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Simon Martin, said: “We are working hard to keep as many essential services running as possible for residents, whilst protecting the health and wellbeing of our staff, during this difficult time.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Customer Enquiries

Tel: 01329 236100
Email: customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk

Media Enquiries

The Communications Team
Tel: 01329 824310
Email: publicity@fareham.gov.uk
Fax: 01329 550576

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