Stratford-on-Avon District Council's 'Clip and Collect', garden waste subscription service opens on Monday 11 January 2021.
For garden-loving residents who are interested in signing up to the scheme, there is an early bird offer of £35 for each green bin for a 12 month subscription starting on 1 April 2021.
The annual charge is £40 for each green bin, but if residents sign up between 11 January and 28 February 2021, they can take advantage of this early bird offer.
Cllr Ian Shenton, Operations Portfolio says: "I would encourage anyone who would like to subscribe to our garden waste service, to take advantage of this early bird offer and sign up now before the service starts in April.
"It will give you peace of mind that you will still have your garden waste collected for 12 months and at the same time save you money be signing up early for a weekly fee of 67p.
"Over 3,000 residents have already shown an interest in the service last year and they will be sent text reminders about the service.
"It's an entirely optional service and this is not a compulsory charge, but from April our garden waste collection will only be available to residents that register and subscribe. If you do not have a garden or do not want to pay for the collections you do not need to do anything.
"The collection of garden waste is a discretionary service - i.e. one that we do not have to provide. Given our budget pressures last year and this year we had a choice to charge for the service or possibly stop it completely. We felt it would be fairer for residents to have a choice to pay for a service or not, rather than not having a service at all."
To subscribe and find out more about this service, please visit: www.stratford.gov.uk/gardenwaste
From April 2021, the District Council will be introducing a charge for the collection of garden waste.
The current cost of providing the service free for all 61,386 properties in the district is £1,152,525 a year.
The introduction of a charge is part of a package of measures to offset a cut in funding from central Government.
Householders who pay to have their garden waste taken away will be issued with a non-transferable permit to attach to their green bin.
Householders who choose not to take part in the scheme have the choice of home composting or taking their garden waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Warwickshire County Council offer discounted home composting bins on their website: Composting - Warwickshire County Council
Food waste will still be collected on recycling collection weeks, even if you don't subscribe to the garden waste service using a food waste caddy. Free food waste caddies are available on request by calling 01789 260628 or emailing: streetscene@stratford-dc.gov.uk
