As part of our Waste Services transformation programme, we are modernising our services in line with industry practice. This will include actions such as route optimisation to support our goal to reach net-zero emissions as an organisation by 2030.
As part of this transformation, our garden waste collection service will change from a discretionary service to a paid subscription service. Registration for the new service will open in January 2023.
We know many of you value us collecting your garden waste, so we will provide the subscription-based collection for those customers who want to keep this service.
We will be joining other councils in Hertfordshire - including St Albans, Watford, Three Rivers, North Herts, Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield - who all charge for garden waste collections.
Over two thirds of councils in England currently charge for this service and, with increased financial pressures, sadly we can no longer offer this service without collecting a subscription charge - which will go towards covering the direct costs of delivering
the service, and help reduce our impact on the environment.
Cllr Graham Barrett, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, said: “Local authorities across the country are facing immense pressure to provide essential and statutory services, and any increase in Council Tax will be put towards these services.
As a discretionary service, it is essential to make the garden waste collection self-financing, to help protect our essential and statutory services.”
The annual subscription charge for the garden waste collection service will be £45 per wheeled bin. All additional green-lidded bins will be charged at the same rate. You will need to sign up to the new paid subscription service to continue to have
your garden waste collected.
We will be sending out a leaflet to all households in January with further information about this change. More information and the link to subscribe will also be made available on our Garden Waste Subscription Service page with households able to pay for their new garden
waste subscriptions from January.
You will be able to purchase a garden waste subscription at any point in the year. However, the rate of £45 will remain the same throughout the year, so it is recommended that you subscribe at the beginning of the year to ensure the best value for
money.
Garden waste collections will continue to be paused throughout winter months when less garden waste is produced. Collections will begin again as listed in your 2023 bin calendar.
If you decide not to sign up for the paid service, there are many ways you can still recycle your garden waste. You can compost it in a home composting bin and turn it into valuable and nutrient-rich food for your garden, or take it to your local recycling centre.
