Green waste collections have been cancelled as Harlow Council looks to shed unessential services in the fight to slow the spread of coronavirus.

From April 1, green waste collections will be cancelled “until further notice”.

Regular recycling, non-recycling and food collections will continue as normal, although this will remain under review.

Beginning from April, the council had planned to slash the annual cost of green waste collection by over 50 per cent from £96 a year down to £42.

A council spokesperson said: “Due to the ongoing national situation with coronavirus, Harlow Council and its waste and recycling contractor, Veolia, have been reviewing services on a daily basis.

“Residents will still be able to make use of Essex County Council’s Harlow Recycling Centre on River Way, which is going to be open as normal for as long as possible, to dispose of green waste.

“This is to prioritise the other waste services and ensure that they can continue to run normally for as long as possible.

“As soon as we are able to, we will introduce our improved and less expensive garden waste service as planned. We will keep residents informed when we are able to do this.”

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