Garden waste collection resumes today, Monday 6, following its suspension due to Covid-19.

Reading Borough Council stopped collecting green bins after drivers and loaders tested positive for Covid-19 and their colleagues had to self-isolate.

But excess bagged green waste that will not fit in the bins will have to be disposed of by residents at the re3 centre in Island Road.

Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading councillor for neighbourhoods and communities, said: “I’m heartened to hear that green waste collections are resuming on Monday 6th September, thanks to the hard work of the team recruiting new members of staff and thankfully, fewer staff needing to isolate.”

Read more: 10 homes for refugees in Reading as Taliban claim Afghanistan

The council is asking residents to put all green bins outside on their normal collection days and they can check on the council website if they are unsure.

Subscribers to the green waste scheme will not lose out financially, their subscription period will be automatically extended to cover the weeks missed.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their patience while we had to pause weekly green bin collections, and our bin crews who have worked tirelessly in these exceptional circumstances to keep waste and recycling collections going as usual.”

“We absolutely appreciate this is a busy time of year for gardeners and it will have caused inconvenience.”

Read more: Look inside this grand £1.5m home selling in Reading

She added: “The pause in green waste collections protected household waste and recycling collections.

“So much has been going on behind the scenes to keep vital services going, such as working additional hours, moving drivers from other areas to work on collections, and redeploying office staff to support the frontline. I am proud of the efforts of the team.”