Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC] and Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC], share a multimillion pound joint contract with waste management contractor Urbaser.
The bin service has already been stretched as the contractor is feeling the effect of the national shortage of HGV drivers, which is being compounded by an increasing number of people having to isolate as they follow the Government’s Covid guidelines.
The suspension of garden waste collections is expected to be for at least four weeks.
Tom Dawlings, Leader of TWBC said: “I apologise to all residents affected by this and thank them for their patience. I can assure residents that this was not a decision that was taken lightly but it does mean we can prioritise other collections.”
Matt Boughton, Leader of Tonbrideg Council, added: ‘We are very sorry to have to suspend garden waste collections, which we recognise will inconvenience many residents.
“However our priority must be to utilise the resources available to reduce delays in collecting general waste and recycling. Subscriptions will be suspended and although the suspension is for four weeks, we will reintroduce garden waste collections as soon as possible.’
The councils have written to all garden waste subscribers to apologise for the inconvenience the suspension of garden waste collections will cause, and to advise that subscriptions will be extended for the period the suspension is in place.
