Green waste fees to hit all?
Severe cuts will force every council to consider charging householders
All authorities in England could charge for green waste collections by 2022, the head of an influential local authority committee has said.
Andrew Bird, chair of the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), said funding cuts over the next five years will be so severe councils will be forced to find further ways to save money.
“Around 44 per cent of authorities already charge for collections and I suspect within five years all will be doing it,” said Mr Bird at a recent conference.
Although collecting rubbish and recycling materials are classed as statutory services, collecting green waste is not. While some householders are charged up to £70 a year for green waste collection, average charges span £20-£50. Wolverhampton Borough Council charges £60, Oxford City Council £46, and Bracknell Forest Council £40.
Levels of service between authorities varies greatly, too. Warrington Borough Council charges £33 per household to empty as many green bins as required, while nearby West Lancashire Borough Council charges £30 per bin, with a £25 excess for each additional bin. Rugby Borough Council proposes to charge £50 to empty two green bins per household. Some authorities allow householders to club together to reduce the fee, while others do not.
LARAC wants more householders to compost their own green waste and is urging local authorities to make home composting equipment and information more freely available. l How do you feel about paying for green waste collection? Are you already doing so? Let us know by contacting us, see page 57 for details.