Cost of garden waste collection service increased

Residents are being asked to pay £10 more this year for Swindon Borough Council's voluntary green waste collection service due to higher operational costs.

The service now costs £50 a year or £2 per collection and provides a fortnightly green waste collection using a green wheelie bin.

All garden waste is sent for composting and recycled into environmentally friendly soil improver, to make best use of it and support the environment.

The service has been running for three years and is funded by those residents who wish to make use of it, rather than via their council tax.

Existing customers will receive an email or letter inviting them to subscribe for another year, while tags will also be attached to general household waste wheelie bins to encourage those who do not have a green wheelie bin, to sign up to the service.

All subscribers will receive a membership sticker to display on the lid of their bin(s) to help crews identify paid-for bins.

Keith Williams, Cabinet Member for StreetSmart, said: “The number of households who have signed up to the garden waste service has been steadily growing over the past few years but we’re urging even more people to sign up.

"It is an excellent service and although there has been an increase in the subscription from last year, it still represents great value for money since it avoids people having to take their green waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centre, with the inevitable queuing involved.

“This year we have looked closely at the service and adapted it to achieve the most reliable service possible. New routes and the provision of stickers help streamline collections by our crews knowing exactly where to pick up the garden waste.”

Sign up via www.swindon.gov.uk/gardenwaste  or call the garden waste service on 01793 445501.