Residents were concerned that they would be paying more for fewer garden waste collections
OIiver Castle – Local Democracy Reporter
10:12, 19 Jan 2026
Councillor Rhys Baker(Image: LDRS)
A council has U-turned on its proposal to reduce the number of garden waste bin collections.
Members of South Kesteven District Council’s cabinet heard that the authority was initially planning to reduce the number of annual garden waste bin collections from 23 to 21.
Under the plans, this would have meant that there would no longer be any garden waste collected in January and February – but the Christmas tree collection service in January would be maintained.
But at a meeting on Thursday, January 15, councillors heard that the proposal will no longer go ahead following concerns from many residents that they would be paying more for fewer garden waste collections.
Coun Rhys Baker (Independent – Bourne Austerby), the portfolio holder for environment and waste, said he had listened to the concerns of many councillors and residents and had changed his mind.
He said: “The original report on fees and charges suggested a £1.50 and 50p increase, but that was predicated on some proposals that there were going to be two waste collections for the green bin in January and February removed from the 2026/27 collection.
“After the environment committee and lots of really good cross-party feedback – lots of really good conversations – we took the feedback back to cabinet and we decided that actually the strength of feeling around this means that we need to preserve those two collections.
“That does mean that there are going to be more collections than had originally been budgeted for, hence the very modest increase.
“But as I say, even on those increased ones, it represents a 3.64% increase for the first bin and a 2.22% increase for the second bin.
“CPI (Consumer Price Index) in September was 3.8% so these are both below inflation increases, recognising that actually people really are struggling.”
Under the new proposal, the cost of emptying the first green bin will increase by £2 to £55 and the cost of any subsequent bins will rise by £1 to £45.
This comes after many councillors raised concerns about the proposal to reduce the service at a environment overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, January 13.
Coun Paul Martin (Conservative – Grantham Arnoldfield) said that many residents had contacted him to say that they were against the proposal to reduce the number of collections, saying “if you’re going to reduce the service, reduce the cost”.
Coun Sarah Trotter (Conservative – Lincrest ward) said she was concerned about a rise in flytipping as a result of fewer garden waste collections.
She added: “My worry is that if we scrap January and February – and we’ve had a long discussion about flytipping – I do know for a fact that although we got all sorts of materials, we equally get garden waste flytipped as well.
“Is it going to cause us more issues, more expense getting rid of the rubbish on the side of the roads?”
At the meeting on Thursday, January 15, Coun Baker thanked the councillors and residents who raised their concerns with him.
He added: “We have recognised the strength of feeling around this resource and we have listened.
“It is showing that even where difficult decisions have to be made on the spur of a moment because we work in the system that we do with the recommendations to cabinet, it does provide us with the ability to reflect carefully on the subtext, the context and everything surrounding the issues to make sure that any policy that eventually gets onto the books is fit for purpose, based on what our residents want.
“I’m very grateful for all the points that were raised by members or by visiting members of the committee.
“I’m very grateful for the patience and insight that was shown there and I’m very grateful for the residents that contacted me as well and I hope to bring forward a proper, careful detailed list of what will happen in due course.”
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