Redcar and Cleveland previously joined other councils in introducing an annual charge to ease budget pressures
At work in the garden(Image: Getty)
A garden waste subscription service introduced by Redcar and Cleveland Council has raised an income of more than £1m this year. Figures produced for the council’s resources scrutiny committee show 24,807 residents signed up between January 1 and October 31 this year, resulting in an income of £1,012,950.
Approximately 77% of householders took out a subscription via the customer portal on the council’s website, with the remaining 23% subscribing over the phone, or in person at council contact centres. While collections have now ceased, the council began planning for the 2026 period last month with a focus on resident engagement and subscriptions via online methods.
Unlike household waste and recycling, there’s no legal requirement for councils to collect garden waste, a service that was previously offered for free. In many instances local authorities have subsequently taken the decision to introduce charges in order to offset increasing financial budget pressures, allowing collections to continue for those happy to pay for them.
From April 2024, Redcar and Cleveland followed the likes of Middlesbrough Council with an ‘opt in’ approach to fortnightly green waste collections which operate between April and November each year. Residents pay £40 a year for one garden waste bin and £20 for each additional bin, up to a maximum of five.
Annual subscriptions are opened each year from the end of January for residents to take out. Garden waste such as grass and hedge clippings; leaves; plants and flowers; twigs; sticks and small branches and weeds, must be presented in a 240 litre wheeled bin, specifically provided by the council.
The council is proposing to retain fees at the same level next year.
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