Cabinet to consult on introducing chargeable garden waste service

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Press Release

Published on 7 October 2019
Archived on 7 November 2019


On Monday 7 October, Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet approved a proposal to begin a consultation on introducing a chargeable garden waste service.

Cllr Ian Shenton, Operations Portfolio says: "The District Council is facing significant financial and environmental pressures. Since 2010, there has been a 60% reduction in central government grant funding which means that the District Council must consider a number of options to close the budget deficit in future years.

"One option is to introduce a chargeable garden waste service to help the Council reduce the costs of this service. Although many residents find the garden waste collection service very convenient, it is a discretionary service, not a statutory service that we must provide.

"By looking to introduce a charge of perhaps around 80p a week, the District Council would be able to continue to provide a cost effective, efficient service for households that want it, while minimising the overall cost of the service and encouraging more environmentally friendly ways of dealing with garden waste, such as home composting.

"Without considering introducing a charge for this service, the District Council may have to look at discontinuing the existing garden waste service."

The consultation will aim to find out:

  • Whether residents would continue to use the garden waste service if it became chargeable.
  • If so, how much would they be prepared to pay for the service.
  • If not, how would they dispose of their garden waste.
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The consultation will be available on the District Council website from Tuesday 8 October to Tuesday 19 November at: https://www.stratford.gov.uk/GardenWasteConsultation/


The proposal

From 1 June 2020, the District Council proposes to introduce an annual £40 charge per wheeled bin or equivalent sacks for the fortnightly collection of garden waste throughout the year.

Additional bins/sacks would be charged at the same rate.

A 5% discount in the first year would be offered to those residents who set up an annual Direct Debit for the service.

The payment terms would be a single annual subscription fee payable in advance and non-refundable.

A free compost bin will be offered to residents who are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction and who choose not to participate in the service.

Residents will be required to 'opt-in' to the service on an annual basis. They will receive a branded sticker/tag each year so that the crews are aware of the bins to be emptied.

Residents who do not want to opt into the service, but still want to receive a food waste collection will be provided with a food waste caddy, on request, free of charge (if they do not already have one). This caddy will then be presented on the scheduled garden waste collection day and the contents emptied and composted.

 

  • The District Council has provided a garden waste service since 2003.
  • Garden and food waste is collected together.
  • Currently, a maximum of two green bins or six green sacks are collected per property free of charge on a fortnightly basis (all-year round). There is a charge for the emptying of third or subsequent bins of £45 for 1 year; £62 for 2 years; and £80 for 3 years. No charge is made for green sacks. 

Contact details

Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House, Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX
Tel: 01789 267575

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Last updated on 07/10/2019