Sunderland bin collections: Changes in services announced that will affect city households

Bulky and garden waste collections are being temporarily suspended as Sunderland City Council continues to do everything it can to make sure it can support healthworkers and prioritise services for those most in need.

It says it has taken the decision in light of the latest national guidance on coronavirus and in order for the council's environmental teams to be able to support refuse and recycling collection services.

It has also issued advice on how people can protect themselves and council workers as the waste rounds continue, as well as help the teams should changes be made to the usual routine.

Residents can check on their bin collection dates at www.sunderland.gov.uk/bindays and people are being asked to bear with the council while these dates are updated during the crisis.

Garden waste collections were due to begin on Tuesday, March 31, but the council is now looking the start these from the week of Tuesday, April 28, and extend them beyond the end of the current subscription period, with the final collection now taking place in December.

It is also looking to suspend its bulky waste collection service from Wednesday, April 1.

Any bulky waste collections which have already been arranged will be collected.

Fiona Brown, executive director of neighbourhoods, said: "Pausing our bulky collection and garden waste collection services will allow us to concentrate our efforts on supporting the NHS and prioritising help for vulnerable people as well as keeping our refuse and recycling collections going at a time when resources are particularly stretched as a result of coronavirus.

"We would ask residents to bear with us during this time.

“Council staff are working exceptionally hard to make sure that we can carry on providing critical services to the most vulnerable members of our community but this means we are having to reassess and temporarily stand down some of our non-critical services.

"We know that our residents take a real pride in where they live and the importance they place on living in a clean green city and we would ask them for their help by continuing to only place the correct materials in their recycling bin and any residual waste in their green bin.

"We're also asking residents to store any bulky or garden waste until collections restart or our Household Waste and Recycling Centres reopen.

“In the meantime, we are continuing to take action against flytipping because we know the damaging impact this can have on our communities."

Click here to find an interactive map showing how COVID-19 has had an impact on Sunderland

The council is also urging householders to help protect both bin crews and themselves and their families by washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before:• Putting anything in their bin• Putting their bin out for collection• Bringing their bin in after collectionIf someone in their home is suffering from coronavirus-type symptoms or is self-isolating due to a possible infection they are also asked to:• Place all personal waste such as tissues, wipes and disposable cleaning cloths in a separate disposable rubbish bag. Tie the top to prevent anything falling out.• When full place this bag into a second bag, that is also then tied securely• Keep this bag for at least 72 hours in a place not accessed by people or pets• Follow the guidelines above about handwashing before using your bin• Put the bag in your green household waste bin for disposal as normal.