Here is the latest COVD-19 update from Cardiff Council, covering new weekly waste collections, extra homeless provision, support for local businesses, services for tenants in council homes and Cardiff Bus offers free travel to NHS staff.

Weekly waste collections update

Cardiff is moving to a new, weekly, kerbside-collection which will see all household waste (except garden waste) picked up at the same time.

Collection days for your area will remain the same, but the way waste is handled is changing to help manage the impact of COVID-19 and ensure the wellbeing of both residents and the workforce.

Starting on Monday, March 30^th, all residents who have a black, wheelie bin must put their food waste and hygiene waste (nappies/medical waste etc) into the black bin for collection. Do not use your food caddy. Collections will be on the normal day for your area.

Residents that live in areas which don't have black wheelie bins must put hygiene waste (nappies/medical waste etc) in their red-striped bags for general waste. Food waste in bag areas should continue to go into your food caddy to stop animals and birds scattering food waste across streets.

Recycling collections will continue as normal and recycling bags should be put out weekly at the same time alongside other waste.

All residents, wherever you live in Cardiff, are asked to continue to recycle as normal, to rinse out their recycling and to put the correct recyclables in their green recycling bags. The council's A-Z or recycling is available here https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Rubbish-and-recycling/A-Z-of-recycling/Pages/default.aspx

As general waste will now be collected weekly rather than fortnightly the council does not expect to see black bins overflowing or excess general waste left by the side of bins.

Bulky waste and green garden waste collections

Bulky waste collections and green garden waste collections have been stopped until the emergency is over. Stopping these services will help the council deploy the workforce to keep our streets clean.

To simplify and ensure waste operations can continue with a reduced workforce we may be unable to sort recyclable waste during the emergency, as such, it will go to the energy from waste plant along with the residual waste. This is the safest way to dispose of waste that may be carrying Covid-19. 

However, as strange as it seems, we still need you to put recyclables into your green recycling bags so that we can return to recycling the waste when we are able.

Also, if you don't wash out and separate your green bags animals and birds will break them open scattering waste over the streets. With a reduced workforce it'll become extremely difficult for us to manage and clean this up.

Green recycling bags remain available at the four key hubs which are, Central Library Hub; Powerhouse in Llanedeyrn, St Mellons Hub and Ely Hub. They can also be ordered online here https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Rubbish-and-recycling/Food-and-recycling-bags/Pages/default.aspx  and we are redeploying staff to speed up home deliveries. We ask for your patience in the circumstances as we do our best to get bags to you.

Extra homeless provision

The first clients have moved into the city's OYO hotel, as new plans are revealed to take on a further hotel to increase provision for homeless individuals during the Coronavirus crisis.

The Council announced earlier this week that it had secured additional accommodation at the OYO Hotel on Clare Street in Riverside, for rough sleepers and those living in emergency accommodation, where individuals sleep in shared spaces and self-isolation is not possible.

This new accommodation will enable any individuals with underlying health conditions, or who are showing symptoms of Coronavirus COVID-19, to be able to self-isolate.

Last night, 22 clients spent their first night at the OYO hotel, which also provides three meals a day for residents, and has support staff available around the clock to ensure the provision is safe and appropriate advice and help is always available. 

A second hotel, providing 89 beds, will open next week to provide more individuals with a safe and secure place to self-isolate and recover. As with the OYO Hotel and shipping container accommodation, the YHA Cardiff Central hostel building in Tyndall Street Splott, will have support on site 24-hours a day.

Grants to support local business

The Welsh Government has recently announced a £1.4 billion support package for businesses in Wales to help combat the economic impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

All retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £500,000 or less will receive 100% non-domestic rates relief for 2020-21. This will be administered automatically through the Council's Rate Scheme and will apply automatically.

In addition to the business rate relief scheme, the Welsh Government has announced that an additional £850m will be made available through a new grant scheme for businesses.

This will mean that all businesses, which are currently eligible for Small Business Rates relief, that is those with a rateable value up to £12,000, will receive a grant of £10,000. If you believe you are an eligible business click here  for the application form and follow the processes outlined.

Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value between £12,001 and £50,000 will receive a grant of £25,000. If you believe you are an eligible business click here  for the application form and follow the processes outlined. 

Services for Council Tenants

The priority is to keep tenants and staff safe at this very difficult time and this means some changes to services have had to be made. 

Repairs

To ensure a service to tenants with the greatest need, only emergency repairs will be carried out and tenants should only contact us about a repair if it is an emergency. For non-emergency repairs, tenants should  contact us week commencing 15^thJune onwards when it is anticipated the service will be able to respond to these repairs once again.

Existing appointments for non-urgent repairs are suspended until after 15 June. 

Exchanges and Transfers

No further exchanges will go ahead at this time and only urgent transfers will take place. 

Rent Payments

Tenants experiencing problems with rent payments at this difficult time should get in touch to discuss. 

Tenancy and Anti-social behaviour issues

Home visits will take place only in very urgent cases. Issues will be resolved by telephone as far as possible. 

Cleaning of Communal Areas of Flats

Routine cleaning of low rise flats will also be suspended and bulky waste collection may be delayed. 

Tenant Participation

All meetings organised by the Council are being suspended. We strongly advise that all groups suspend their meetings.

Cardiff Bus offersfree travel for NHS staff

From today (Thursday 26 March), until further notice, to support those NHS workers at the frontline in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic, NHS staff will be able to travel for free on Cardiff Bus. When boarding the bus, NHS staff showing valid ID to the driver travel for free.