Newsroom Archive

Compared to last Easter, there has been a 27% increase in other recycling and waste collections and over a two week period there has been a 208% increase in green waste collections.

Cllr Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member responsible for waste and recycling, said: “Our priority is to maintain the normal level of household collections, and crews are working so hard at the moment to manage this.

“People having more time to do jobs around the home that they haven’t got round to before is adding to the pressure. As it looks unlikely that the Government lockdown will end soon, we must all try to do what we can to support our crews to keep up with demand. They are doing a fantastic job. Like the hundreds of households leaving them messages of thanks, my thanks also goes out to them.

Steve Mitchell, Veolia Director - West, said: "Throughout this uniquely challenging time Veolia's teams are continuing to provide essential services that help to protect communities and keep them as clean and safe as possible. 

"We take the health and safety of our employees and the communities we serve as our top priority, and have a carefully planned approach to managing our operations during the pandemic. Working within the government and our own operational guidelines we have taken the necessary steps to ensure the health of our workforce, and members of the public.

"We ask the public to bear with us as we prioritise key areas of service delivery, and to continue to support our teams on the front line by following all Government advice themselves."

10 ways you can help crews and council services during coronavirus

1.    Make sure your waste fits in your red top bin. Extra side waste won’t be collected, so make sure your waste fits in your wheelie bin. If you have more waste than will fit inside your bin please store it safely until your next collection.

2.    Wipe down the handles of your wheelie bins and recycling containers before presenting them and after they have been emptied. Once you have brought your containers back in, wash your hands.

3.    Stay at least two metres away from everyone, including the crews. Though please note that crews are really appreciating your messages of support, cheery smiles and waves.

4.    Anyone who has, or suspects they have, coronavirus should double bag their soiled tissues and cleaning cloths and store them for 72 hours before putting them in your red top bin. Do not put tissues or used face masks in your recycling containers as they won’t be collected.

5.    Flatten and release any air in your plastic, squash your cans – this will help create more room in your purple bin. Please make sure you are recycling the correct items in your bin, you can check what goes where here.

6.    Flatten, cut or tear card/paper into pieces the size of your blue bag and secure it under your blue bag for collection. If you find you are creating more paper/card recycling each week, order an additional blue bag here.

7.    Avoid overfilling your garden waste bin. If you have too much for your bin, don’t force it in, store until your next collection.

8.    Minimise food waste where you can. Love Food Hate Waste has useful tips and recipes for using up leftovers and reducing food that is wasted.

9.    Household Recycling Centres are temporarily closed in line with Government advice. Staff have been redeployed to help maintain kerbside waste/recycling collections. Please store items until the recycling centres re-open. Do not fly tip this waste. Fly-tipping is a crime and offenders face a hefty fine and/or imprisonment.

10. We ask you to think of others and not light bonfires during the current Coronavirus pandemic lockdown. The effects of bonfires at this time are likely to be much more serious and have a bigger impact at this time. The Coronavirus is known to cause serious respiratory problems, which could be made much worse if the sufferer is exposed to smoke from bonfires. The Council can take enforcement action against any persistent offenders where bonfires cause an impact on neighbours. More here.