Early bird discount for garden waste collection

The deadline for benefitting from the discount has been extended to 5pm on March 31st. It was originally due to run out on Thursday (March 16th).

Residents who sign up by the end of this month and want to continue with fortnightly garden waste collections, after the chargeable service comes in from May 1st, will pay £25 rather than £30.

The cost covers 20 collections a year, with the usual break over winter.

Coun. Lian Pate, the council’s Executive member for community services, said: “So far more than 5,500 people have signed up for the new service. The ‘early bird’ discount has been popular and we feel we should give people a little extra time to take advantage of it.

“The weather’s also starting to get a bit warmer and people are starting to get out into the garden again and so we expect extra interest from residents who wish to opt in to the garden waste collection service.”

A council spokesman said that the authority, like many others across the country, can no longer afford to provide the non-statutory service without introducing a charge.

The garden waste service will remain free of charge until the end of April.