Gather leaves before garden waste collections take a break

Residents with brown garden waste bins are being reminded to sweep up their leaves and take advantage of their last garden waste collection before the service is temporarily suspended in early December.

Garden waste bin collections across the borough stop on 7 December until the end of February 2011 to help Rochdale Borough Council save money.

Anyone wishing to dispose of garden waste during the suspension period should take it to their local household waste recycling centre (HWRC) or consider composting it instead.

The amount of garden waste the council collects between December and February is significantly lower than that it collects at any other time of the year, which is why the council has decided to suspend the service over winter.

Refuse and recycling waste collections will continue as normal so residents can put their refuse and recycling bins out on their usual collection days, including over Christmas and New Year.

Councillor David Clayton, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Residents with garden waste bins have collections every other week, so I’d urge them to sweep up now and benefit from their last garden waste collection before the suspension.

“We appreciate the inconvenience the suspension will cause to some people. However, running the service during the winter months simply isn’t financially viable, and the council has had to make some tough decisions to save money – including suspending garden waste collections.”

To find out when your last garden waste collection of 2010 will take place check your latest printed bin collection calendar or call 0845 226 1800.

The council will issue new garden waste collection dates to residents in February before the service starts again in early March.

You can take your garden waste to any of the three HWRCs in the borough, which are open 7 days a week from 8am to 6pm except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day at: 

• Chichester Street, Rochdale OL16 2AU. Telephone 01706 643871
• Springvale, Middleton M24 2HQ. Telephone 0161 653 5271
• Peel Lane, Heywood OL10 4PR. Telephone 01706 363956