Refuge collectors are receiving notes of thanks from residents on their wheelie bin lids after the council ensured that rubbish collection was prioritised.

The private company Veolia, which has the contract for Croydon has also been inundated with ‘thank you’ letters from local children (pictured).

The reduced workforce due to the coronavirus means that bin collections in Croydon may be later than usual but at the moment, recycling and waste collections are taking place with general waste and food waste  being prioritised. Others council’s have already cancelled recycling collections due to dwindling staff numbers.

Cllr Stuart King, lead cabinet member for Environment and Transport, posted this Tweet: “Saw this on my daily permitted walk this evening. Note says ‘just to say thank you and let you know you are not forgotten. Thank you.”

Croydon council is advising residents to leave their bins in the place they are normally picked up if a collection is missed, as the bin lorries aim to return in the following days.

Bulky waste collections have been suspended so crews can be re-deployed and rubbish tips are also closed, meaning that bulky items, garden waste, DIY waste and other waste should also be stored at your home.

Councillor Stuart Collins, cabinet member for clean green Croydon, tweeted thanking staff, adding:“Things may change as different measures come in, but I am sure the public recognise these are unprecedented times.”