Green bin waste collections to be suspended all over Milton Keynes from the end of next week

Residents are reminded to put out their bins to be emptied on their regular slot next week, as this could be the last time for weeks, of not months.

The green bins take food, including cooked leftovers, and garden waste. After Friday, residents are asked to compost waste where possible pr dispose of food in black plastic sacks.

Any bags containing food waste should be put out just before collection is due to avoid the problem of rats and wildlife shredding the sacks.

Council environment bosses were forced to make the decision to suspend green bin collections due to the number of staff employed by contractors Serco who are off sick or self-isolating.

The move protects the weekly collection of black and clear recycling sacks. Both these services will continue as normal.

But the news comes at a time when thousands of people are doing more gardening due the isolation restrictions.

There is also expected to be a huge increase is cardboard package as more people are having goods delivered online.

Loose cardboard cannot be collected. Instead it must be cit up and fitted into the clear recycling bags.

An MK Council spokesman said: "We’re stopping food and garden waste collections throughout MK after regular collections on Friday 3 April until the situation improves.

"We;re doing everything we can to continue to provide essential services in these extreme circumstances and we thank you for continuing to support our crews as frontline key workers."

Meanwhile all household waste centre (tips) in Milton Keynes were closed on Tuesday due to the coronavirus crisis, so garden waste cannot be disposed of there.

The Newport Pagnell site's Trade and Commercial Waste section will remain open for trade customers only.