Garden waste service price change from April 1

Why has the cost for the green waste service changed?

The cost of  the green waste service covers two areas: the initial cost of the bin and the cost of collecting and processing the green waste, plus a small administrative management cost. The current green waste charge is calculated on the full cost of the collection divided between the number of current customers.

Previously the costs of the service were subsidised by the Council through general Council funding, mostly from Council tax payments. However there is no statutory requirement for the Council to provide it (unlike services such as education and welfare), so we have been asked to ensure that all the costs for collections are fully recovered through the payments made by customers.

What are the new service charges?

£60/year per bin, or £50 if you pay by direct debit.

Collection sacks - £1.40 each available to purchase individually from any local libraries, or in packs of 10 from the Civic Centre or Townmead Road Waste Reuse and Recycling Centre in Kew. Sacks are also available mail-order in packs of 10 with a post and packaging charge, either visit our Recycling containers for the garden waste collection service page or call our Customer Contact Centre on 08456 122 660 (local rate).

When do the changes apply?

From 1 April 2009. The cost of green waste sack will also change from 1 April 2009.

Please note that for bin contract renewals, if you do not pay within one month of receiving your renewal payment letter we will assume that you no longer want the service and will seek to remove your bin.

How can I pay by direct debit?

From 1 April 2009 direct debit forms (with an address slip) will be sent out to existing bin customers a month before their existing contract expires. New customers will be able to request a Direct Debit online or by post.

All direct debit forms must be fully completed and be returned with the application/address slip attached.

Once we receive your direct debit form, we are authorised to debit the account annually for the green waste bin service charge of £50. The amount charged may change in the future and we will inform you in writing of this charge a month before we charge you.

Due to the size of the fee only a single annual charge is offered as smaller installments are not cost effective to administer.

Are there any concessions for the green waste collection service?

The green waste collection service is already part subsidised to residents by the authority. Unfortunately due to changes to the way the service is funded, this subsidy has had to be reduced.

Will collections remain fortnightly?

Yes the collections will remain fortnightly on the same day of the week as your other waste and recycling collections. If you have excess green waste you can order 2 or more bins, take it to Townmead Road Reuse and Recycling Centre or compost at home.

What alternatives do I have/how do I compost from home?

Composting your green waste at home has the least impact on the environment, the least cost and produces free compost for you to use on your garden. Subsidised compost bins are available to buy from Townmead Road, Reuse and Recycling Centre. If you need advice on home composting or call 0845 600 0323.

Why has the bin price gone up by a greater percentage (of last years price) than the garden sacks?

The sacks are able to hold less green waste on a volume basis than bins and the charges  have been raised to reflect this, and offer better value for money.

Why do some other councils offer free green waste collections?

It is not compulsory for local authorities to provide a green waste collection service using council tax collected from households and funding provided by central government for the delivery of essential services.

Many local authorities spread the cost of providing this service amongst all residents by funding it from the council tax and government grant. Richmond Council raises the majority of the cost of this service from the actual households using the service, freeing up council tax and central Government funding for covering costs of services we must provide such as education and welfare.

What do I do if I would like to cancel my contract?

If you do not wish to continue using your collection bin, either email recycling@richmond.gov.uk or call 08456 122 660 to tell us to collect the bin. We will need to know your address and whether the bin is available to collect from the front of your property at all times or if we need to arrange a specific collection date.