Residents are being encouraged to take part in a consultation on the future of garden waste collections in the county.
Following recent confirmation from government regarding their waste strategy, we now know that all local councils will be asked to provide a separate garden waste collection service.
Introducing a separate garden waste collection service will support the council's vision to increase recycling rates as set out in our Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2021-2035.
We are assessing future options for the collection of garden waste from residential properties, and are evaluating the option of a paid-for, subscription-based collection service to be introduced from April 2025.
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 will replace the current arrangement and green sacks for garden waste will no longer be available for purchase and will not 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 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 greater 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, so 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, please visit the consultation page on our website.