Garden waste collections fee to rise in 2021

Harborough District Council has approved an increase in the fees for collecting garden waste to ensure the full costs are met by those receiving the service and that residents that do not have a garden waste collection are not contributing to the service through their council tax.

The new subscription charge will be £55 per year per bin, which equates to an increase of just 71 pence per collection.

The Council said the increase was due to inflation and associated service costs increasing and that the cost of the optional service for residents remains “extremely good value”.

Cllr Jonathan Bateman, Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead on Planning, Environment and Waste, said: “Due to the popularity of the service, the actual cost to the Council, per bin is around £53, which equates to a subsidy of some £284,000. This is both unsustainable to the Council finances, and unfair on those residents who choose not to use the green bin service. The increase will take the cost of having the green bin emptied fortnightly, to £3.05 per collection, this is amazing value for an extremely convenient and environmentally sound service.”

The popular garden waste collections operate from March to December each year, with a one-off Christmas tree collection for subscribers in January. The service runs every fortnight during the spring, summer and autumn months.

The green wheeled bin can be used to dispose of loose green waste, grass cutting, leaves, flowers, weeds, clippings, twigs, small branches and real Christmas trees, without the need for residents to take these items to the tip.

The 2021 subscription service will be available to sign up to online from February 2021, via the council website, or by contacting the Council’s customer services.

Find out more about the garden waste collection service at www.harborough.gov.uk/green-bin