A limited bulky waste collection service is to start again across Hinckley and Bosworth next week.
Collection of large items, such as domestic furniture and appliances, had to be put on hold in March due to severe staff shortages as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Now staff levels at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have improved and the service can resume, with social distancing measures meaning that items can only be moved by one operative working alone.
The authority has already contacted customers who had previously booked a bulky item collection to rearrange the service where possible and those collections started last week.
Councillor Bill Crooks, executive member for Street Scene Services, said: “I’d like to thank everyone for their patience during this very challenging time and particularly to the frontline staff who are adapting to the current ways of working.
“We appreciate this is only a very limited service at this stage, but working practice will be kept under review in line with Government guidance on social distancing and we trust it will be helpful to residents if they are unable to keep items at home until services return to normal.”
Up to three electrical items such as televisions, monitors and music centres and outdoor items including lawn mowers and bicycles, can be picked up for £15.
Concessions are available.
Collections are on Thursdays, with the first collection on May 7.
The deadline for booking is noon on the Wednesday before the collection day.
To see the full list of items that can be collected and to book a collection, visit the borough council website or call Hinckley 238141.
Garden waste collections
Garden waste collections have also resumed across the borough after more than a month out of action.
Subscribers are asked to present their bins before 7am on their usual garden waste collection day.
This is particularly important during the catch up period during May, as crews will not be able to return for any missed collections.
The amount of waste being collected has increased by up to 30 per cent, says the council.
Crews will be unable to take any extra garden waste or residual waste (brown and black bins) and therefore residents should only present their wheelie bins and the lid should be closed, with no extra sacks.
Additional dry recycling can be placed in clear sacks and placed beside the bin together with large pieces of cardboard if flattened.
Crews have continued to empty 53,000 refuse and recycling bins every week throughout this crisis, despite reduced staffing levels.
All subscriptions have been automatically extended by up to two months for customers to cover the one month period the service was suspended.
Garden waste bins displaying 19-20 subscription stickers will now be collected until May 31, 2020.
Garden waste bins displaying the 20-21 subscription stickers will now be collected until May 31, 2021.
Residents can check their bin collection day or subscribe to the 20-21 service on the borough council website, or by calling Hinckley 238141.
The cost of the service is £24 a year.
Customers are asked to allow at least 10 working days for the 20-21 sticker to arrive before presenting the garden waste bin.
Private and other collections
Residents using a private waste collector to dispose of larger items are advised to check that the collector is registered.
Officers also recommend asking for a waste transfer note to see where the waste is taken to for disposal.
Clinical waste collections (sharps) are being collected fortnightly.
Affected customers have been advised about alternative collection dates.
Hazardous waste is still being cleared away, including needles, glass and dog mess, though this will take longer than usual due to staff shortages and social distancing measures.
Barwell tip is among those closed across the county due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
