All garden waste collections in Richmond have been suspended for the second week in a row – as bin men have had to self-isolate.

Council bosses say they will now prioritise household waste/food collections with missed collections being recovered within two working days – but garden waste will remain uncollected “until further notice”.

Bin men are also unable to collect paper and cardboard from some roads in Barnes, East Sheen, Mortlake and Richmond.

This comes as dozens of councils in England have faced delays to their bin collections due to staff self-isolating because they’ve been ‘pinged’ by the NHS Track and Trace app.

But the government have said there is a new update for the app that will ‘ping’ people less often.

And residents are furious with the delay to their bin collections.

Responding the council on Facebook, resident Caroline Alexander said: “This is getting beyond a joke. Are we going to receive free garden bags to replace the ones that are now deteriorating because you’ve not organised a collection?

“The garden bags are not cheap. I’m now wasting money every time I use one. Not happy at all…”

And Parag Parekh added: “This is getting ridiculous now! Please can you compensate everyone who has paid for green waste collections for this interruption.”

A Richmond Council spokesman said: “Garden waste collections will continue to be suspended until further notice.

“This is due to a number of the collection crews having to self-isolate, so we do not have enough staff to continue all collections streams.

“Logistically we have had to make the decision to prioritise household waste/food collections followed by blue and black box recycling collections.”

Serco, who are contracted by the council to collect waste have refused to provide numbers of bin men self-isolating in the borough.