New way to go green

Thanet’s new garden waste collection service gets underway next month (April), which will be available to all homes in the area for the first time.

Garden waste will be collected from a green lidded 240 litre wheeled bin, that can hold the equivalent of five refuse sacks, and will be taken to a composting site to be recycled.

Garden weeds, grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, flowers, plants, leaves and small twigs and branches of less than an inch in diameter can go into the bin. Garden waste must be put into the bins loose. Soil, stones, rubbles, plant pots, food waste, plastic bags and large logs or branches will not be accepted.

To join the scheme, you will need to hire the bin, for a one off cost of £25. There will also be an annual charge of £30, which will pay for the emptying of the bin every fortnight all year round, except the period between mid December and mid January. If you join up for collections for part of the year, this annual charge will be reduced.

Cllr. Shirley Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Commercial and Environmental Services, said: “This new scheme means that everyone who wants their garden waste collected and taken away to be recycled will now have to pay for it. That means that people who use the service are the ones funding it, rather than Council Taxpayers. The scheme will cost those who join around £1.25 every fortnight to have their garden waste collected. For those who don’t want to join the scheme, but are still keen to recycle, home composting is an environmentally friendly way to dispose of your garden waste.”

You can join online now, or by calling 01843 577115, and paying with your debit or credit card.  More infromation about the garden waste collection scheme is available at  www.thanet.gov.uk/gardenwaste. Bins and details of your collection day, which may differ from your usual recycling and waste collection day, will be delivered within 10 working days of payment being received.

ENDS