Council meets target for garden waste savings

Around 7,000 households in Blackpool have so far signed up to a new subscription scheme for garden waste collections.
A charge has been introduced for Blackpool residents who want to get rid of green wasteA charge has been introduced for Blackpool residents who want to get rid of green waste
A charge has been introduced for Blackpool residents who want to get rid of green waste

The figure represents about 10 per cent of the population of the town.

It means the council has met its target of 3,340 subscriptions in order for the reduced service to cover its annual costs of £100,260.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There is still chance for more householders to sign up if they have not already done so.

The council introduced charges for the service last month because cuts to its budget mean green waste can no longer be collected for free.

The move meant savings of £300,000 could be made as part of £25m of budget cuts being made in the current financial year.

Many local authorities across the North West have taken similar measures.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Research by composting specialists Mantis has found Blackpool has the lowest charge in the region, at £25 for the first year (although this will increase to £30 for subsequent years), along with Halton and Pendle.

The average charge for the North West is £28.57, compared to £41.13 for the rest of the country.

Wirral Council has set the highest charge of £67 in the first year.

David Goose, managing director at Mantis, said: “We hope that garden waste collection charges are encouraging more people to take up home composting, which is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of organic waste.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“However, there have been concerns that fees will increase fly-tipping, make recycling sites too busy, or divert more recyclable waste to landfill.”

Blackpool residents not wanting to take up the subscription service can either put green waste in their general refuse bin, or else take it to the Bristol Avenue tip or compost it.

Recycling of plastics, tins, cardboard and paper will continue as usual.