Wednesday 31st May, 2023
Colchester City Council is set to introduce garden waste charges in January 2024, imposing an annual fee of £55 throughout the borough.
The proposed scheme is expected to be approved by the new LibDem-only Cabinet at its first meeting on 7th June.
It includes a £10 set-up fee, £30 for a garden waste wheelie bin, and an annual charge of £55 for a fortnightly collection.
The introduction of the paid Garden Waste Collection Service was approved as part of budget-saving measures to address the £10m budget gap.
The Council claims the need for alternative revenue-generating schemes to prevent the closure of leisure centres and other essential services – although charging for garden waste collection and closing leisure centres is not exactly a binary choice.
Redundancies are also mentioned in the Cabinet report as an alternative to garden waste collection.
The report states that the service will be launched in mid-January 2024. The current legislation allows the Council to impose charges for garden waste collection since it is considered a discretionary service.
The Council proposes several options for residents:
1. Opting into the new paid garden waste collection service.
2. Opting into the service along with a neighbour(s)
3. Home composting using a subsidised composter.
4. Establishing a community composting scheme.
5. Using Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) to dispose of garden waste.
6. Paying for private disposal through a licensed waste carrier.
It is anticipated that community composting schemes may work more effectively in areas with active green communities, as seen with initiatives promoted by Wivenhoe Town Council in recent years.
The Council argues that home composting is the most desirable option from both an environmental and financial standpoint.
The report emphasises that home composting allows for recycling of waste at the point of production, thereby avoiding collection and disposal costs.
In comparison, neighbouring Tendring charges £90 for the first year of a similar service, followed by £55 per year thereafter. Chelmsford continues to offer a free garden waste collection service.
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