Garden waste collections halted as crews switch to clear food waste backlog
Garden waste pick-ups across Caerphilly County Borough have been suspended for one week, with the council focusing limited resources on food waste rounds that have fallen several days behind. The temporary pause started on Monday 13 July and is due for review on Friday 17 July, when a decision on resuming the service is expected.
Caerphilly County Borough Council said short-staffed teams are being redirected to tackle missed food waste collections following disruption linked to the current heatwave, vehicle breakdowns and unusually high volumes of waste. Crews have been operating reduced hours to avoid the hottest parts of the day, hampering attempts to run overtime catch-up rounds, although weekend working has continued to chip away at the backlog.
What is paused — and what is not
The suspension applies only to garden waste collections scheduled from Monday 13 July to Friday 17 July. Residents who were due garden collections on Thursday 9 July and Friday 10 July and were missed are advised to leave their bins out, as catch-up crews are still working through those rounds.
| Date | Service status |
|---|---|
| Thu 9 Jul & Fri 10 Jul | Missed garden collections — leave bins out for catch-up |
| Mon 13 Jul – Fri 17 Jul | Garden waste suspended to prioritise delayed food waste |
| By Fri 17 Jul | Council to review and confirm next steps |
Why now? Council cites heat and breakdowns
Explaining the decision, the authority pointed to a combination of extreme temperatures, vehicle failures and heavier-than-normal volumes of material presented at kerbside. Crew safety measures during the heat meant shortened shifts at peak temperature, limiting opportunities to run additional rounds and pushing regular collections off schedule. The council said teams had continued to work weekends in an effort to stabilise services.
“This decision has not been taken lightly as our teams have endeavoured to provide a full-service provision over this period. We apologise for any inconvenience or frustration caused.”
The emphasis for the week is on restoring food waste collections to their usual rhythm, with the council acknowledging residents’ concerns while asking for patience as backlogs are cleared.
What residents in Caerphilly should do
- If your garden waste collection was missed on Thu 9 or Fri 10 July, keep the bin presented; catch-up teams are still operating.
- All garden waste collections due between Mon 13 and Fri 17 July are cancelled.
- Await the council’s review update on Friday 17 July for confirmation of the following week’s schedule.
The pause does not change the council’s stated priority this week: getting delayed food waste rounds back on track. Residents are advised to follow any further updates from the authority as the situation develops.
Political reaction: claims of a ‘postcode lottery’
The move has prompted criticism from the opposition benches. Cllr Nigel Dix, an Independent representing Blackwood, accused the administration of delivering an inconsistent service across communities and urged stronger management during challenging conditions.
“The collection of waste is a basic service. It’s not complicated.”
“People pay their council tax and expect a reliable service. Labour-led Caerphilly has turned it into a postcode lottery, you place out three bins for collection and then wait and see what will happen.”
While recognising the efforts of front-line crews, the councillor argued that leadership should ensure residents receive clarity and reliability, even when temperatures climb and operational difficulties mount.
What happens next for Caerphilly households
The council has committed to a Friday 17 July review to judge whether garden waste rounds can restart the following week. Much will depend on how quickly food waste backlogs are eliminated and whether vehicle availability and staffing improve sufficiently to restore the normal balance of services.
For now, the focus is on clearing overdue food collections and completing the limited garden waste catch-up from the end of last week. Residents across the borough — from Blackwood and Newbridge to Caerphilly town and the Rhymney Valley — are being asked to bear with the changes while crews work through the accumulated load and contend with the heat.
This is a peak period for garden maintenance and, inevitably, a pause will be felt by households relying on the service. The test for the authority will be how swiftly it can stabilise food collections, lift the suspension, and communicate clearly with residents as the weather and workloads continue to challenge normal operations.
