Garden waste collection changes – have your say1

From 1st July, people are being asked to have their say on changes to kerbside garden waste collections which could save Wiltshire Council thousands of pounds.

Garden waste is currently collected at the kerbside every fortnight, however the council has put together three proposals to reduce the cost of the service.

Toby Sturgis, cabinet member responsible for waste management said, “The council faces significant financial pressures with reduced funding from central government, increased service demand and inflation and these pressures are likely to increase. We need to make savings to help the council deliver its priorities of protecting vulnerable people, boosting the local economy and bringing communities together.

“These changes will not always be easy, so we want to involve local people in any decisions we make to ensure people have a chance to have their say.”

People will be asked to choose which of these three options best meet their needs:

• A three month suspension of the kerbside garden waste service with no collections taking place in December, January and February.

• A five month suspension of the kerbside garden waste service with no collections taking place in November, December, January, February and March.

• To introduce a chargeable kerbside garden waste collection service instead of the current service

Currently, only 10% of green waste is collected between December and February, and 25% is collected between November and March. The third option would see a charge of £35 per bin per year.

People are reminded that the household recycling centres in Wiltshire still accept garden waste, and the council will continue to provide subsidised compost bins which can compost your garden waste and food waste at home. These can be ordered at www.wilt shire.gov.uk or by calling Great Green Systems on 0800 731 2572.

From 1st July, you can find out more information on the proposals and let the council have their thoughts on the options for changes by:

Visiting the council’s website – www.wiltshire .gov.uk • Picking up a leaflet at your nearest library, leisure centre and Wiltshire Council office • Looking out for the summer ‘Your Wiltshire Magazine’ • Emailing the council on Gardenwasteconsul tation@wiltshire.gov.uk

The consultation runs from 1st July until 1st September 2014.