Letters are being sent to householders in West Oxfordshire encouraging them to sign up for a new opt-in garden waste collection service.
The new subscription-only service starts from the beginning of April 2017 and costs £30 per bin a year for fortnightly wheelie-bin collections.
For many years garden waste collections have been free in West Oxfordshire, but due to the loss of external funding, a small charge is now being made.
Many councils are already charging for garden waste collections, as unlike other waste, it is not a statutory service and they are not legally obliged to make collections.
Cllr Carol Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Environment said, “Garden waste collections are popular and householders confirmed in a survey last year that it is a service they greatly value. Without this service, disposing of waste would result in the inconvenience of regular ‘tip visits’ for many people. We believe that £30 a year represents good value for money and residents can be assured that all their garden waste will continue to be composted and put to good use.”
“Householders with smaller gardens may want to share a bin with a neighbour, this is fine, and some are already doing this through the free service. Another alternative way of dealing with garden waste is by home composting; for those interested there are details of discounted composters on the council website – www.westoxon.gov.uk.”
From April, garden waste collections will be undertaken by Ubico, the Council’s new waste contractor. However, Ubico will not take over all of the Council’s other waste collection services until October 2017.
Signing up for garden waste collections is quick and easy, simply make a credit or debit card payment online or over the telephone by visiting www.westoxon.gov.uk/garden or calling 01993 861025.
To guarantee receipt of a new Garden Waste Licence in time for the start of the new service, householders should sign up by and make their payment by no later than Friday 3 March 2017.