Agenda item

Excess Waste

The Waste Management team have seen a 23% increase in the amount of waste collected during the lockdown period. Comparison with the same period last year shows that refuse has increased by 21%, recycling by 18% and food and garden waste by 28%. The waste management team and Biffa have managed to maintain all service collections during these challenging times and by using additional vehicles to keep the streets clear of waste has meant we have been able to manage the extra waste during this period.

Access Issues

With the Coronavirus lockdown meaning more people working from home, inconsiderate parking is becoming an issue for waste collections. The cars are often legally parked, but parked in a way that makes it difficult for recycling and rubbish collections vehicles to negotiate roads. The attached letter will be placed on vehicles that are preventing the waste collection vehicles accessing roads to help reduce the incidences where waste collection crews have to make multiple journeys to the same roads in order to collect the waste.

Grounds Maintenance

This year it is not going to be achievable to provide full bedding displays throughout the district from over the summer months, there are difficulties sourcing the required plants from suppliers as they are also impacted by the Coronavirus.  

Normally we would start removing the bedding displays towards the end of April and replant with summer displays in June. This year we are going to extend the winter displays whilst they still look good for as long as possible (hopefully until the middle of May) before they are removed and left weed free and empty.  We will then, if stock is available will provide a limited summer bedding service a number of flower beds throughout the district and revisit the issue again in autumn with the intension to provide a full winter bedding displays. Town and Parish Councils will be advised of this change to the usual provision.

Algae Bloom

The Environment Agency has reported Potential Algal Bloom in the River Stort between Lower Sheering and Roydon Park.

Algae blooms are a natural phenomenon. Under certain weather conditions it can bloom in large volumes, cutting off the oxygen supply in rivers and lakes. If the outbreak is serious, it can lead to the death of fish and other organisms. Algal blooms can also be toxic to wild animals, people and pets.

Environment Agency Officers will continue to monitor the situation and deploy additional resources if necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay away from any water courses showing signs of a bloom – typically cloudy or less clear green water and dead fish. It can also look blue-green or greenish-brown. Scums can form during calm weather when several bloom forming species rise to the surface. This can look like paint, mousse or small clumps.

Anyone seeing signs of the algae on the River Stort should report occurrences to the Environment Agency Incident Communications Service on 0800 80 70 60 quoting reference 01801279.