RECYCLING collections in Swindon will move to once a month, with council waste teams hit hard by Covid-19.

The move - which Swindon Borough Council says is temporary - came into force on Monday and affects the recycling box collection for paper, cardboard, tins and glass only.

The council wrote on social media: “Important information about your waste and recycling collections.

“Due to a surge in staff shortages because of the continued impacts of Covid-19 and staff sickness, alongside a national shortage of HGV drivers, we’re currently unable to provide our standard recycling service.

“From [yesterday] (July 19) all households across the Borough will move to a temporary four weekly recycling box collection (paper, cardboard, tins, glass). All other waste collections remain unchanged.

This means that for the foreseeable future, households all across Swindon will have to keep their recycling for almost a whole month before it will be collected.

Swindon Borough Council has issued further advice to residents depending on when their usual collection for recycling takes place.

“If your recycling collection is due this week (week commencing July 19), you should put your recycling boxes out as normal. If your recycling is collected, your next collection will take place in four weeks’ time (week commencing August 16).

“If your recycling is not collected within 24 hours, please bring it back in and put it back out on your next collection day in two week’s time (week commencing August 2)

“If your recycling collection is due next week (week commencing July 26), you should put your recycling boxes out as normal next week. If your recycling is collected your next collection will take place in four weeks’ time (week commencing August 23).

"If your recycling is not collected within 24 hours, please bring it back in and put it back out on your next collection day (week commencing August 9)."

The council has indicated that this new revised schedule will be under constant review and it will return to their normal service as soon as possible.

It has also urged residents to do what they can to make the recycling collection easier for recycling crews. It has asked for recycling to be presented in a sturdy container, excess cardboard to be broken down into manageable pieces.