The high incidence of Covid-19 that we are currently experiencing is causing significant disruption to Cheshire West and Chester Council services.

Since the original lockdown in March 2020, bin collection teams have been working extremely hard to maintain the usual service.

However, with a rise in infections and corresponding staff absence, waste collection services are particularly impacted.

Nationally, householders are being urged to try and limit the waste they generate from extra gardening, DIY or spring-cleaning, as councils deal with increased levels of domestic waste from families locked down at home.

In order to ensure all available staff resources focus on essential household waste and recycling collections, the current suspension to the Garden Waste Service will now be extended for three weeks longer than anticipated, until 1 March 2021.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: "We thank all our residents who are affected for their understanding and patience in this matter.

"Our teams have been doing an amazing job keeping the service running through the coronavirus pandemic, and through the current lockdown, as many of us are spending most of our time in our own homes resulting in an increase the amount of rubbish we generate.

"Suspending garden waste collections is not a decision taken lightly, but I hope residents will understand that, as a result of the challenges of the pandemic, we have to prioritise waste and recycling collections."

"I'd like to thank the Cheshire West Recycling teams for doing such an amazing job in really difficult circumstances.

"I'd also like to thank residents for their continued efforts in reducing or reusing waste and composting as not only does this help our waste collection teams but also the environment."

The Council's Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRCs) remain open to accept garden waste if your trip is essential.