Redcar and Cleveland Council's Waste and Recycling team has been forced to make alterations to the services they provide due to a steep increase in the number of staff who are self-isolating.
The current regulations have meant 21 staff have started a self-isolation period this week alone, to add to employees who were already self-isolating. These include a high number of trained drivers who cannot safely be replaced by other staff.
As a result, with immediate effect, garden waste collections and bulky waste collections will be temporarily suspended.
However, bulky waste collections which have already been booked for this week will be collected at the weekend. Residents who have made bookings for Tuesday 20th or later will be contacted directly and refunds arranged.
Dunsdale Recycling Centre will continue to operate, however, the number of slots available will be reduced. Residents should still book their slots using the Council website.
These alterations will ensure that household waste and blue bin recycling collections continue as normal for all residents.
The Council will keep the situation under daily review and will reintroduce services as soon as it can safely do so.
Councillor Julie Craig, Cabinet Member for Highways, Neighbourhoods and Transport, said:
“There are a very small number of positive cases among Council staff, but a very high number who are now self-isolating. When any one staff member confirms contact with someone who has tested positive, it inevitably has a knock-on effect on their crew mates.
“These isolations include a high number of specially-trained drivers, for whom a substitute cannot easily be found. It is this temporary lack of specialist staff that means safe operation at full capacity is not possible.
“We are acutely aware that this is not ideal for our residents, particularly in summer when people are having clear outs and enjoying their gardens, and we have done our level best to avoid suspending any of our services. However, the present - and very sudden - number of Covid isolations is unprecedented and we have no choice but to take this action to maintain our household waste and recycling collections.
“We would like to sincerely apologise to residents for the changes we have had to make and for any household or blue bin collections that have not already taken place when they should. Those collections are being worked through today.
“Please be assured that we are keeping these temporary suspensions under close review and will reinstate a full service the very moment it becomes possible to do so."