Green-fingered residents are set to have their garden waste collected for the first time this year as it has been announced a local authority in Kent will lift its suspension of the service.

Canterbury City Council stopped emptying the bins in March as contractor Serco saw its workforce diminish as a result of ill health and self-isolation following the outbreak of coronavirus.

This came after the service was routinely suspended in January and February because of an apparent lack of demand.

But spokesman Rob Davies says staffing numbers have since recovered, allowing it to reintroduce collections from next week.

“We are delighted to announce that garden waste collections will resume on Monday, May 11,” he said.

“Serco's staffing numbers have now recovered to such a level that the service can be reintroduced.”

The news will be welcomed by residents across the district and came as Kent County Council announced it would reopen waste and recycling centres for public use next Friday.

Mr Davies says just one garden bin per property will initially be emptied as staff attempt to reach as many homes as possible.

But while the suspension has been in place, Nailbourne councillor Mike Sole says there has been a spike in fly-tipping and bonfires across the district.

"Residents haven't had their rubbish collected since last year and many of them have a lot that needs collecting,” he said.

“We've got anecdotal evidence that there have been more bonfires and more fly-tipping.

“The collections need to get going again to clear the backlog of green waste, and it's far environmentally friendly to dispose of it this way than by throwing the rubbish away in black sacks."

When the city council announced that it was halting the service, it also stated that the introduction of annual garden waste collection charges, scheduled to begin in June, would be under review.

The £45 fee was set to be the highest in Kent - despite the bins already being the most expensive to buy in the UK.

However, Mr Davies says that the authority still intends to introduce the levy and suggests the first payments could be received at the beginning of July.

“As many people will know, we had planned to begin charging for green bin collections on June 1,” he said. “This will not be happening on this date.

“We do still intend to bring the charge in, as previously agreed by councillors.

“This could potentially be at the start of July, but this is not set in stone.”

The council’s newly introduced black sack collections, which allow residents to have two extra bin liners collected each week, will continue.

This is despite the authority admitting that crews were unable to reach every property on their rounds.

“As a result, we have reviewed the situation, and have made one key change so that we can help as many people as possible,” Mr Davies continued.

“From Wednesday, May 6, please put your extra two sacks out on black bin week only.

“The sacks will be collected by Viridor crews at a different time to your black bin.”

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