There will be some additional changes to waste and recycling services in Torbay as of Friday 3 April, due to the ongoing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation – and don’t forget if there is someone in your household who has symptoms to follow the advice on disposal of used tissues.

What’s changing?

• The Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Tor Park Road, Paignton closed last week in response to the government’s advice on social distancing and to encourage people to stay at home, protect the NHS and help save lives. The Weighbridge is also currently closed to the public.
  
  
• This week, from Friday 3 April, TOR 2 and Torbay Council have made a decision to temporarily stop bulky waste and garden waste collections. This is to enable them to prioritise kerbside waste and recycling collections from your home.
  
  
• With immediate effect, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 please can any residents who either have the virus or are suspected to have it put used tissues or disposable cleaning cloths in a separate rubbish bag. This then needs to be put aside for 72 hours before being put in your usual household waste bin – and please remember to also wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds after you have disposed of the item. Even if you don’t have symptoms, please double bag used tissues.
  
  
• At present, due to Coronavirus restrictions the Salvation Army are currently unable to empty textile (clothing) recycling banks. Please do not use the Salvation Army textile recycling banks until restrictions have been lifted.

Your household waste and recycling collections remain unchanged for the time being.

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Culture for Torbay Council, said: “This is a very difficult and challenging time for everyone and we are having to make a lot of changes to the way services are delivered – we apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. It is important that we keep household waste and recycling collections going as far as possible and that is where we are focusing the resource with TOR2.

“It’s also essential that everyone follows the government’s advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives so the recycling centre remains closed for now – it is vital that we all practice social distancing as much as possible.

“Please do continue to recycle as much as you can at home though and you can find out more about what to do with your waste and recycling on the Torbay Council website “