Garden waste collections across Colchester have been suspended due to coronavirus.

Colchester Council has decided to stop its garden waste collections from Tuesday for the foreseeable future.

It said coronavirus had led to reduced resources and an increase in the amount of rubbish and recycling being put out for collection.

Martin Goss, the council's waste boss, said: “These are unprecedented circumstances and as a council we have to use the resources we have available in the most appropriate way.

“It’s important that we prioritise other collection types, particularly black bags/bins and food waste which would soon become unpleasant if left, over garden waste at the moment.

"We’re aware spring is a busy time for gardeners and apologise for any inconvenience this causes but we hope that households will understand our decision and make use of other options such as home composting and mulching during this time.”

While garden waste collections are on hold, households in the borough with garden waste can choose to:

  • add garden waste to their home composter or ask their neighbour(s) about adding it to theirs
  • use grass cuttings as mulch
  • cut up and compact their garden cuttings and clipping as much as possible to reduce the volume and store their garden waste
  • postpone some/all of their gardening tasks until the service resumes