Garden waste collections in Teddington are returning after a month of suspended collections due to bin collectors isolating.

Collections for garden waste have been suspended since July 17 due to shortages of bin men who were 'pinged' by the NHS Track and Trace App.

But the council's contractor Serco believes new changes to self-isolation will have a positive impact on collections.

Garden waste collections across Richmond borough resumed today (August 16.)

As of today, fully vaccinated people who come into contact with positive coronavirus cases will no longer have to isolate.

It is hoped that fewer waste collectors will have to isolate if they have been double jabbed, meaning bin schedules will be on track but there could still be delays, Richmond Council warns.

The Council have also confirmed that all garden waste contract holders will be compensated for collections missed.

The authority are currently finalising the plan for this and will contact holders directly via post and email to confirm the details.

Richmond Council urges people to put as much in your bin as possible and anything left beside your bin will still be collected.

They said: "The service will resume but there may still be some delays, particularly as we get the service back up and running and collect the backlog of waste.

"Please bear with us and please check [our website] for details of specific missed collections."

Garden waste collections in Richmond will resume from today, Monday 16 August, the council has announced.

All collections will now be running but there may still be delays to some collection services.

The news comes after weeks of disruptions due to large numbers of crews having to self-isolate due to Covid.

Today the rules around self-isolation have change for fully-vaccinated people.

Serco anticipate this will have a positive impact on the availability of collection crew staff, but says that there are no guarantees as people who have COVID-19 will still have to isolate, as will those who are not fully vaccinated.

The backlog of waste will now be collected, and the council has advised residents to put as much as possible into bins. Anything additional can be left beside your bin and will still be collected.

Any garden waste sacks put out for collection will be re-bagged as necessary and removed. Any spillage due to the decomposition of sacks will also be cleared.

All garden waste contract holders will be compensated for collections missed.

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