As it is revealed in national newspapers that six in ten councils now make families pay an annual fee of up to £100 to pick up garden waste.
Southport gardeners are wondering how long it can be before Sefton’s Bootle bosses fall to the temptation of the Green Bin tax. Neighbouring Labour-run West Lancashire has recently introduced this tax which Sefton Labour leaders planned to bring in a few years ago but were dissuaded after a huge electoral rebellion by gardeners in Maghull.
With councils facing continuing pressure on their budgets, many have brought in more charges for garden waste collections which was once provided for free.
Charges for collecting gardening debris range from around £20 to £96 for a bin for a year, while in many areas residents can buy sacks for their garden waste as an alternative.
Martin Tett, Local Government Association environment spokesman,
says: “Some councils were able to provide free garden and bulky waste services when they were first introduced but are now having to charge to reflect the growing cost of providing a collection service.
”Money from garden and bulky waste collection charges goes back into maintaining the service.“
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