Garden waste brown bin collections will be operating a four-weekly collection for the time being due to the developing COVID-19 situation.

The garden waste collection service took a scheduled break over Christmas and New Year and started up again today.

Unfortunately, due to a reduction in bin collections staff, Biffa, Wirral Council's waste collection contractor, does not have enough available people to restart the brown bin collections on a fortnightly basis as planned.

Staffing levels are too low due to those who are shielding or have confirmed or suspected symptoms.

Garden waste collections will instead operate on a four-weekly basis for the time being.

The Council says this is a temporary arrangement to prioritise the collection of green (general waste) and grey (recycling) bins.

Current subscribers to the garden waste collection service should visit the council's website to find out when their new collection date will be.

There's no need to ask for money back - subscribers will receive all of the postponed collections from the previous subscription year before needing to sign up again.