Garden waste collections across the borough have been cancelled following staff shortages due to self isolation.

Between July 8 and 14 a total of 2,938 contact tracing alert 'pings' were sent out in Richmond upon Thames warning recipients that they were at risk of having covid and needed to self isolate.

Richmond Council announced that there will be no garden waste collections this week as it does not have enough staff to continue all collections streams.

The council has prioritised household waste/food collections followed by blue and black box recycling collections.

It said any missed garden waste collections from Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 July will not be collected until the next scheduled collection. It aims to recover missed collections from Monday 19 July on Saturday 24 July 2021.

A further 45 streets in Twickenham plus more in Hanworth did not have their blue boxes taken this morning for the same reason.

To report a missed garden waste collection call 020 8891 1411.

In the last 7 days 1,055 people have tested positive for Covid in the borough, a 77% increase from last week where 459 tested positive.

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