Green waste collections are to be reinstated across the borough later this month, it was revealed today.

The council took the difficult decision to suspend the free service due to reduced staffing during the coronavirus pandemic. Environment bosses decided to focus on the more immediate health and hygiene concerns presented by household waste and recycling.

However, thanks to contingency planning and increased staffing levels, the green waste collection is set to be reinstated from April 27. This means that households will only have missed one month’s service, or two collections. The service will run for its original duration, plus the two missed deliveries added on at the end. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said:

”It was a really difficult decision to suspend the green waste service, and I know it didn’t go down well with everyone, but our focus had to be on the wellbeing of our crews and maintaining the household waste and recycling collections for the people of the borough.

”I’m really glad that we are now looking forward to reinstating the green waste collection as I know many of our residents have been busy in the garden whilst being at home.

”People have generally been really understanding and shown their appreciation of our waste and recycling crews, with waves, smiles, cards and drawings and some lovely posts on social media.

“On behalf of the crews I’d like to say thank you for this support and understanding. I hope that everyone will continue to bear with us as we get back into the swing of things and understand if we have to adapt as the COVID-19 situation changes.”

To find out when their next scheduled collections are, people can either strike the first two collection dates off their calendar or visit mapping.dudley.gov.uk and enter their postcode for confirmation of their next collection date.

People are still encouraged to keep composting. To allow all residents to receive the service, unfortunately side waste - extra waste left by the side of bins - cannot be collected by crews.