Garden Waste Collection Scheme Still Proving Popular

Amber Valley Borough Council’s Garden Waste Scheme will recommence collections on the 27th of February. The scheme is still proving popular despite gardeners being asked to pay a £40 per year fee, for the first time since 2013.  

Last year the scheme was under threat due to Government cuts (see our previous article). After a period of consultation it was agreed that the previously free service could continue, but only if the gardeners currently using it were prepared to pay an annual fee to cover the full costs of the scheme. Amber Valley Borough Council agreed to continue the scheme on this basis. The introduction of a fee also allowed the Council to expand the scheme to new subscribers.

As well as helping residents dispose of garden rubbish, the scheme is also beneficial to the environment.  All the waste collected is sent for composting and turned into soil improver. This process keeps our garden waste out of landfill sites.

The scheme is obviously valued by gardeners, many of whom have now opted to pay for the service. The Council reports that it has received requests for more than 1,400 new garden waste bins since last year. Many of these are from gardeners using the service for the first time.

Existing customers have to pay £40 to use the service which runs for 40 weeks between the end of February and the end of November. Collections are every fortnight. Existing customers can also have an additional bin by paying £20 to cover the cost of supplying the bin and £20 for the collections.

New customers will be charged £20 for their garden waste bin and £40 for the 20 collections (a total of £60).

AVBC have asked that anyone considering joining the scheme should do so in good time, preferably well before the collections recommence on 27 February. This will allow time for the bin and a welcome pack to be delivered.

 Commenting on the scheme the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment, Cllr Chris Short said:

We are very pleased the scheme is proving so popular, and would like to encourage any residents who are thinking about subscribing but have not yet committed to act quickly to ensure they don’t miss out.”

Full details of how to join the scheme are available at www.ambervalley.gov.uk/gardenwaste or by calling 01773 841326.