Garden waste scheme grows

Residents across Brighton & Hove can now sign up for a garden waste bin, as the council expands its successful Garden Waste Collection scheme.

Members of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee have given the go ahead for an extension of the scheme to meet the growing demand.

The council launched the scheme, in Coldean, Hollingbury, Patcham, Preston and Withdean, in April, inviting residents to apply for a fortnightly garden waste collection.

Since then almost 1,300 residents have signed up, paying £52 a year to have garden waste collected from their properties.

Council officers also received inquiries from around 550 residents living in other areas of the city, asking for green waste recycling bins.

Residents living in Hangleton and Portslade look set to be the first to be offered the extended scheme, with the rest of the city to follow shortly.

The garden waste scheme will eventually be available to more than 80,000 households across the city.

Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee said:  “It’s great news that our green waste collection scheme has been so well received and I am pleased that we can now extend the scheme to many other areas of the city.

“This is another step towards our commitment to provide improved and tailor made refuse and recycling services for all our residents in Brighton & Hove.”

Currently residents not living in the green waste collection areas can dispose of their garden waste by composting at home, taking it to one of the council’s household waste recycling sites, or paying for a contractor to collect it.

Small amounts of green waste are accepted in household refuse bins. However, if the scheme is expanded residents living in areas covered could no longer use their refuse bins to dispose of garden waste.

The council will also continue to offer cut price compost bins and food waste digesters.

The Green Waste recycling scheme is part of the council’s five year Waste Management Strategy which aims to improve recycling rates and reduce waste disposal costs.

Sign up to the new service online or contact our Cityclean service to find out more.