Sunderland brown bin collections set to return - what you need to know about garden and bulky waste collections in the city

Sunderland City Council had been due to begin the scheme Tuesday, March 31, but put it on hold to concentrate efforts on supporting the NHS and services for vulnerable people, as well as its rubbish and recycling collections.

Householders who have subscribed to the garden waste service will see fortnightly collections resume the week beginning Tuesday, April 28, on the same day they get their green household waste bins emptied.

There will also be an extra collection at the end of the first week to collect additional garden waste people may have stored.

For those who get their bins emptied between Tuesday, April 28, and Friday, May 1, the additional collection will be between Saturday, May 2, and Monday, May 4, while for those who get their bins emptied between Tuesday, May 5 and Friday, May 8, it will be between Saturday, May 9, and Monday, May 11.

Additional garden waste should be emptied into brown bins.

The council's bulky waste collection service will also resume from Tuesday, April 28, with six items taken for £10.

It hopes this means people will not be tempted to use “unscrupulous operators” who then flytip, but it has said its household waste and recycling centres remain closed for the time being.

Councillor Amy Wilson, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "We know our residents take a real pride in where they live and the importance they place on living in a clean green city.

“And we understand that many of them will have generated extra garden waste after spending more time in their gardens during the lockdown, carrying out all the jobs they don't normally have time to do.

“That's why we have arranged an additional collection the weekend after the first to mop up any backlog.”

Bin days can be checked via www.sunderland.gov.uk/bindays.

Anyone who has not already subscribed to the garden waste collection service can sign up for £32.50 for the year at www.sunderland.gov.uk/gardenwaste while bulky waste collections can be arranged through www.sunderland.gov.uk/bulkywaste.

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