Sedgemoor District Council has this week defended its decision to increase charges for Burnham-On-Sea residents who use its garden waste bin collection service.
The council has this week revealed the annual charge for ‘green bins’ during this year will be £56.90 – which is a £1.50 increase on last year, and an £8.90 increase since 2015.
Those signing up to the £56.90 per year scheme receive 25 collections of green rubbish a year. Some councils around the UK do not make a charge.
But Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “District councils across Somerset have the policy of charging for the full cost of collecting garden waste, including their administrative and processing costs.”
“Whilst it is a service that councils have to provide, it is a discretionary decision whether or not to recover the costs. Other councils across the country may have decided to subsidise or not charge for this service, hence the differential in costs across the country for the ‘same’ service.”
“Somerset took the view that although this service is a valuable one for many people, it is important to recognise that there are people who don’t have gardens or don’t want to use this service. It would seem unfair that those residents who do not use the service should be expected to help subsidise it through their council tax contributions.”
One Burnham user of the service, who asked not to be named, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The garden waste collection service is really useful, but the cost goes up every year and makes it increasingly unaffordable for the elderly and those with mobility problems who rely on it most, because they cannot easily get to the recycling site at Isleport. The council needs to step back and take a proper look at its pricing.”
Claire Faun added: “Users get a roomy wheeled bin that is easy to fill as you walk it around your garden, saving time and energy going back and forth.”
“Wheel your bin outside for the fortnightly collection, leaving you to sit back and smell the roses instead of using fuel and time going to the recycling centre. We collect flowers, plants, grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, weeds and even branches up to four inches across and compost them in Somerset.”
Customers signing up have the option of receiving a green wheelie bin for their garden waste or garden waste sacks at a cost of £28.40 for 10 bags. Letters are now being sent to more than 10,000 current customers inviting them to renew their subscriptions, which start in April. Customers considering joining up can telephone 0300 303 7800 to order and pay.
Every bit of Sedgemoor’s garden waste is turned into Revive soil conditioner.
Alongside a garden waste collection, home composting is a great way to turn clippings and prunings, plus fruit and vegetable peelings, and even shredded cardboard, into free soil conditioner. Low-cost compost bins can be purchased through Somerset Waste Partnership at www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.
