Cheshire East Council has defended plans to introduce the highest charge in the north west for garden waste collections, writes Belinda Ryan.
The council plans to start charging £56 a year to empty garden waste bins from January through its subscription service.
This is more than other nearby councils such as Cheshire West & Chester which charges £40; Warrington, which charges £43 – although that drops to £39 if residents subscribe online; Halton at £35, Newcastle-under-Lyme at £38.50 and Stoke-on-Trent, which only charges for garden waste collection through the winter at £15. It is free during the summer.
Only Wirral comes close to the Cheshire East charge at £52.20 a year.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked if Cheshire East had been forced to charge a higher rate because the resulting reduction in green and food waste recycling may impact the council’s composting contract with Biowise.
The council was also asked if the higher garden waste charge was to compensate for the increase in black bin rubbish – which costs more to dispose of.
Cllr Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East’s environment and communities committee, said: “As with any subscription scheme, there will always be variations with the fee that is set.
“Deciding the subscription charge for garden waste collections in Cheshire East included looking at similarly bench-marked local authorities, and the fees ranged between £40 and £60 per bin.
“The £56 subscription fee that has been set for Cheshire East residents also reflects that we only have a small shutdown period over the Christmas and New Year period for garden bin collections, unlike many other local authorities where this shutdown can be as much as 12 weeks plus.
“If residents choose not to opt-in into the garden waste subscription service, they can continue to dispose of their garden waste for free at our household waste recycling centres.
“Our waste strategy encourages residents to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste as much as they possibly can – this includes encouraging people to try home composting and to minimise food waste though the ‘love food hate waste’ programme.
“Home composting is an excellent and environmentally-friendly way of transforming garden waste and fruit and vegetable peelings into a valuable and nutrient rich food for people’s gardens.”
The council said more information about home composting and food waste reduction is available on its website at cheshireeast.gov.uk/waste_and_recycling/reducing-household-waste/reducing-household-waste.aspx
Sorry is this on all C E C areas or is it like parking some pay some don’t i love my garden and as i now live alone it keeps me sane ,but i for one will op out of it and would like to know when the council will collect my brown bin?
This service has been provided within the cost of the council tax. I wonder if starting to charge for it is actually legal and as they see its value at £56 pa, am I entitled to reduce my council tax by the same. Also, if this goes through will the black and silver bins be next?
If they are short of finance, what are they doing with the extra income from the thousands of new houses that have been built?
Totally agree Kev,the cost is bad enough, but the principle is my main reason for being dead against pay it.
The councils argument does not hold water and is an insult to our intelligence, give themselves a not deserved pay rise,then expect us to cover it,sorry but this does not look good on labour .
I might explore buying the biggest black bin, and using that! Far from ideal, with an unnecessary cost, but preferable on a point of principle.
Dear Editor article was taken from another post on Councillors pay increase….guess that is why rate payers in Cheshire East are being charged more than any Council for garden waste at £56 per year. THOUGHT LABOUR FOUGHT FOR THE PEOPLE????
Dear Editor,
Labour run Cheshire East increased councillor allowances by a whopping £500 a year …and they have even backdated it.
But they voted NOT to increase allowances before the election in May.
What changed?
Over 4 year term, councillors will be able to claim a total of over £4 MILLION from the Council taxpayers.
The Labour Leader of the Councillor receives £40,500 a year in allowances.
Labour Councillors are always pleading poverty but there is no shortage of money to increase the Councillors’ allowances.
Your faithfully,
Cllr Brian Silvester
Leader #CreweFirst
A 12 month service for garden waste makes no sense. We need a weekly collection through the growing season and zero collection through the winter.
Surely this can be achieved with a little thought and no extra expense?
Anyone know a good paving firm?
A badly thought out scheme. This collection does not need to operate for 12 months of the year. The home owner is paying the council to take away the green waste recycle it then sell it on without returning any profits back to the customer.
Typical politician, never answered the questions, so why our we being charged so much?
Well let me answer for him,BECAUSE WE BELIEVE YOU OUR DAFT ENOUGH TO PAY IT.
Sorry but you have taken far too many liberty’s with poor value for money and reduced services for years, I hope that people stick together on this and not pay this,take it to the tip,or just do what the council do,leave your grass cuttings to blow away ,usually in the gutter.