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You are here: CIWM  >  Publications  >  Latest News  >  Daily Mail Survey Claims 1 In 4 Councils Charge Extra for Garden Waste Collection

Daily Mail Survey Claims 1 In 4 Councils Charge Extra for Garden Waste Collection

13 June 2011

Nearly one in four councils is charging up to £113 a year to collect garden waste, was the reported results of a Daily Mail survey

The newspaper today made claims that a revolt by Tory councils is one of the main reasons for the charge; with local authorities blaming Whitehall budget cuts for the fees for collecting green waste, which come on top of "hefty council tax bills".

Out of 267 councils that responded to the Daily Mail survey, it was reported that 64 charge for a collection service, with fees ranging from £15 to £113 a year.

The news comes after the Daily Mail also claimed last week that plans to force councils to collect rubbish every week are to be scrapped. CLICK HERE for the full story.

The newspaper has suggested this now means householders face a postcode lottery over whether they have to pay to have grass and garden waste collected.

"But campaigners said the inconsistency was 'unfair', and warned that some households may choose to fly tip instead of paying," the newspaper states.

Survey Results

The Daily Mail survey reported to show that Hart council in Hampshire charges £113 for the first year of garden waste collection, dropping to £58 in subsequent years. Harlow council in Essex charges a £90, while Kingston Upon Thames charges £69. Householders in Taunton Deane, South Somerset, Mendip and West Somerset pay around £40 a year, but their neighbours in North Somerset pay just £1.50 for a waste bag.

And while residents in South Kevesten, Lincolnshire must pay £26 a year; those in neighbouring North Kevesten enjoy the service for free. But in Reading, plans to charge £22.50 were met with protests.

John Bowsher, a residents' group spokesman told the Daily Mail: 'The people using the service are elderly people who have time to spend in the garden, or young families on low incomes who garden to supplement their food. They are the people who can least afford this.'

A spokesman for the Taxpayers Alliance also commented: "Residents already pay council tax, which has almost doubled in the past ten years. This is the gradual hacking away of a service that has been in place for years."

Local authorities defended the sums. Tony Hall, of Harlow council, said: "I would like to offer this service for free but due to financial pressures we can't."

For the Daily Mail story CLICK HERE

Darrel Moore