Bin collections: the latest information and guidance from Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde councils

However, there are changes in some areas – as well as important new rules about disposing of waste from households where one or more people are self-isolating with Covid-19 symptoms.

This is the current situation across the Gazette area:

BLACKPOOL

Grey lid general waste bins and blue lid recycling bins for glass, cans and plastic will be emptied fortnightly - on the usual grey collection day.

However, paper and cardboard – usually disposed of in sacks – should be placed in either the grey or blue-lidded bins for the time being.

Green waste collections have been suspended indefinitely – along with the Bulky Matters waste service and Rover mobile recycling service.

A spokesperson for Blackpool Council said: “We are doing our best to keep services running as best we can and thank residents for bearing with us during what is a challenging time for all of us.”

WYRE

Wyre Council says that its main priority is to ensure that general grey bin waste continues to be collected as normal to avoid any environmental health issues.

The authority is also attempting to make its usual recycling collections, but warns that this may not always be possible – and asks that residents bring any uncollected recycling bins back onto their properties.

The subscription-based green waste collection service will be suspended from 30th March to allow staff to be redeployed. However, residents will be credited with any missed collections and are being told not to cancel their direct debits for the service.

New bulky waste collection requests will not be taken and existing appointments will be fulfilled only where staff do not have to enter a property.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “Our waste collection teams are working as hard as they can at the moment.

“However, your recycling collections may be affected and the position is changing daily. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this disruption as a result of the pandemic.

We will make every effort to return to a normal service as soon as possible. We appreciate your co-operation in such difficult times and as with other key service personnel, we are doing our best to maintain services.

“Please remember that our staff and their families are affected as well.”

FYLDE

Fylde Council says that it is attempting to maintain normal general waste and recycling collections as far as possible.

Green waste collections will also continue, but subscribers to the service are advised that it may take longer than usual to despatch the green bin stickers to show that they have paid for the service for the new financial year starting in April. In those circumstances, waste collection staff will use in-cab technology to see whether a household has signed up to the service and, if so, will collect their bin as normal.

All new bulky waste collection requests have been suspended.

A message on the authority’s website says: “Our operational staff are working hard to maintain waste collections wherever possible – however, this may change over the coming days/weeks due to the latest government advice on social distancing and self-isolating.

“Please be mindful of where your vehicle is parked on collection day to help our crews navigate an easy route. It would also be helpful if you could present your bin slightly earlier on collection day as we may need to readjust the rounds in line with available resources.

“It is more important than ever to ensure that rubbish bags are all securely tied and contained within the grey refuse bin to help prevent spills and protect our collections teams and the public. Please do not place any other bags of rubbish alongside your bin as these will not be taken by the crews.”

***IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH SUSPECTED CORONAVIRUS (ALL AREAS)***

Residents who are self-isolating because of suspected coronavirus are being urged to follow new rules about how to dispose of their household rubbish.

They are aimed at people in self-isolation because one or more members of the household are displaying Covid-19 symptoms – a new, persistent cough and/or high temperature.

The measures are based on the latest guidance issued by the government which affects how and – crucially – when rubbish is disposed of.

This is what residents across the Fylde coast are being told to do:

***Household waste must be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full.

***The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied.

***No waste should be put in any bin less than three days before the bin is due to be collected.

***If you have a rubbish bag that needs to go in your bin less than three days before collection, please store it in a suitable and secure place until the bin has been collected. Then place the bag in the bin ready for the next collection.

***Do not store rubbish bags in communal areas or on the street. Once the household’s isolation has come to an end, waste collection can resume as normal.

***Do not take this waste to your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

***It is more important than ever to ensure that recycling is clean and dry and that rubbish bags are all securely tied to help prevent spills and protect collection teams and the public.

The measures are to ensure that if the virus is present on bin bags, there is sufficient time for it to die before the councils’ waste teams handle it. It is thought that coronavirus can live on some surfaces for between 48 and 72 hours.