Residents are being encouraged to take part in a consultation on the future of garden waste collections in the country.
Local councils are being asked to provide a separate garden waste collection service following recent confirmation from government regarding their waste strategy.
Introducing a separate garden waste collection service will support the council’s vision to increase recycling rates as set out in the Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2021-2035.
Future options are being assessed for the collection of garden waste from residential properties and the option of a paid-for, subscription-based collection service to be introduced from April 2025 is also being considered.
Subscribing properties would be provided with a 240 litre brown bin. Collections would take place on a fortnightly basis between march and October giving 18 collections in total. All garden waste collected would be composted.
Should this service be introduced, it would replace the current arrangement and green sacks for garden waste would no longer be available for purchase and wouldn’t be collected alongside the black bin.
Legislation allows for a charge to be made to cover the cost of running a separate garden waste service and current evaluation anticipates that the annual subscription fee would be £55.
Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “The consultation on the future of garden waste collections in Herefordshire is now open, and we are keen to hear from as many residents as possible to help inform decision-making. The introduction of a subscription scheme would help us to improve efficiency of the service and promote grater levels of composting, but would look quite different to the service that users currently experience.
“The closing date for responses is Friday 19 January 2024, s I would encourage anybody interested in the future of waste services in the county to take part.”
For more information and to take part in the survey, visit the consultation page on the Herefordshire council website.