Thurrock Council increases frequency of garden waste collections

Thurrock Council is pleased to announce that it is re-introducing a fortnightly garden waste service for all avid gardeners in the borough. 

The council’s reintroduced garden waste collections will increase in frequency from monthly to a two-weekly schedule, ensuring that every home in the borough has garden waste collected fortnightly. This will help residents who are enjoying their gardens and gardening at this time of year and especially when even more time is being spent at home.

Cllr Aaron Watkins, Cabinet Member for Environment said:

“I’m delighted that after further review we have been able to increase the frequency of garden waste collections to fortnightly, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our frontline waste crews and staff. We ask that residents continue to minimise their garden waste and compact what they put in their brown bins to ensure it will fit.”

Collections continue to use the current ward system and will take place in a different half of the borough each week. Residents are asked to leave their brown bin out at the start of the week and to take it in again once their garden waste has been collected. 

The timetable will use the following fortnightly schedule:

Week commencing Monday 18 May:

• Chadwell St Mary; Corringham and Fobbing; East Tilbury; Little Thurrock Rectory; Orsett; Stanford East and Corringham Town; Stanford-le-Hope West; The Homesteads; Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park; Tilbury St Chads.

Week commencing Monday 25 May:

• Aveley and Uplands; Belhus; Chafford and North Stifford; Grays Riverside; Grays Thurrock; Little Thurrock Blackshots; Ockendon; South Chafford; Stifford Clays; West Thurrock and South Stifford.

Cllr Watkins added:

“Please also ensure that brown bins are used for their designated purpose and are not contaminated with items such as hardcore and concrete.

“The Linford Household Waste and Recycling Centre reopens for waste or recycling which cannot be stored safely at home from Monday 18 May, under strict social distancing rules. Please only visit the tip if absolutely necessary. Residents can also use the bulky waste collection service, which is cheap, convenient and has no issues around social distancing.

“Continue to dispose of food waste in your green or grey bin or, alternatively, residents can give composting a go. We encourage those who have been using a self-made composting site to still do so where possible. This natural process can help you to save money, improve the soil in the garden and can help reduce your impact on the environment.

“Many thanks to our residents for their patience during this period.”

The council advises residents to continue to check its thurrock.gov.uk/household-waste-and-recyclingwebpage for any variations to the service during this period.

For more information on composting, visit: thurrock.gov.uk/composting