Birmingham bin collections continuing almost as normal

But Birmingham City Council is making renewed pleas for anyone displaying Covid-19 symptoms to tie and double-bag their waste, and wait 72 hours before disposing of it in the household bin.

Meanwhile, bookings for bulk waste collections are suspended until further notice and tips are closed.

The council has also suspended new sign-ups to its garden waste collection subscription.

A council spokesman said: “Household waste and recycling collections are being carried out as scheduled as far as possible.

“We apologise for any missed collections – the position is being closely monitored and reviewed daily and we will be taking into account the impact of school closures now they have begun.

“From March 24, all garden waste subscribers should continue to present their brown-lid bin as normal, but to ensure the most reliable service possible, the garden waste may be mixed by the crew with your general household waste.

“As at March 27, a decision has been made to suspend garden subscription sales in light of the current situation. Whilst sales are suspended, we would recommend composting your garden waste.

“Anyone who has had Covid-19 or has displayed symptoms should follow government guidance to tie and double-bag their waste – and wait 72-hours before disposing of it in their household bin.

“New bookings [of bulky waste collections] are suspended until further notice to redirect resources to domestic waste and recycling collections.

“Household Recycling Centres (Tips): Closed until further notice.”

Council housing tenants have been told the authority’s repairs and maintenance service is still operational but is “now being run on an emergency and urgent repairs basis only”.

Tenants are asked to report any repair in the same way as normal.

All cleaning services in high-rise, low-rise and sheltered schemes will continue to operate with “additional focus placed on communal areas”.

The council is inviting vulnerable people to register for food parcels online at: gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

The council’s pest control has had to reduce its services due to a lack of available pest control officers.

A council spokesman said: “Rats inside properties are priority, and then rats in gardens of domestic premises. We have stopped undertaking pest control sprays for bed bugs and cockroaches (which is a paid for service).”