FORTNIGHTLY garden waste collections to return starting next week.

Redcar and Cleveland Council confirmed that from Tuesday 9 June households should put their garden waste the same day as their blue recycling bin for collection.

Due to a much-reduced workforce following the outbreak of COVID-19, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council suspended green waste collections so it could prioritise household and recycling collections.

Residents made the most of a special collection of garden waste over the past two weekends after the council’s refuse team worked extra shifts.

Now garden waste collections will resume as normal, members of the public are being reminded that side rubbish will not be collected, and any garden waste needs to be contained within the correct bin.

Due to many people working from home, the Council is still collecting greater volumes of household waste, so members of the public are being asked to recycle as much as possible.

Bins must also be presented by 7am on the day of collection and taken back in at 7pm on the same day.

Cllr Barry Hunt, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Environment at the Council, said: “It’s great news that fortnightly collections are back, and I want to thank our refuse workers for pulling out all the stops during this crisis. They have been short-staffed and worked extra shifts to make sure services run as normal as possible.

“We also know that this has been an adjustment for residents, but they have given our crews a fantastic reception, with applause and thank you notes."