TMBC and TWBC garden waste collections suspended from 26 July
In line with a growing number of councils Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council have taken a proactive decision to temporarily suspend garden waste collections from Monday 26 July across both boroughs.
This decision has been taken by the councils now to free up available staff to ensure that food waste, recycling, refuse and clinical waste collections continue.
Both councils are doing everything they can to ensure services are maintained. The service is already stretched as the contractor is feeling the effect of the national shortage of HGV drivers. This is leading to ongoing difficulties in recruiting drivers and competing for agency drivers to cover the permanent vacancies left unfilled. There is also an increasing number of people nationally having to isolate as they follow the Government’s Covid guidelines.
The suspension of garden waste collections is expected to be for at least four weeks.
Tom Dawlings, Leader of TWBC said: ‘I apologise to all residents affected by this and thank them for their patience. I can assure residents that this was not a decision that was taken lightly but it does mean we can prioritise other collections.’
Matt Boughton, Leader of TMBC, said: ‘We are very sorry to have to suspend garden waste collections, which we recognise will inconvenience many residents. However our priority must be to utilise the resources available to reduce delays in collecting general waste and recycling. Subscriptions will be suspended and although the suspension is for four weeks, we will reintroduce garden waste collections as soon as possible.’
The councils have written to all garden waste subscribers to apologise for the inconvenience the suspension of garden waste collections will cause, and to advise that subscriptions will be extended for the period the suspension is in place.