Wirral Council has opened subscriptions for its brown bin garden waste collection service.
Charges for the service were introduced in 2013, and this year it will cost £55 for the first bin – up £2.50 on last year – and £31 for any additional bins.
Most councils now charge for the service, arguing that if it were free it would be unfair to households without gardens. Last November, the government ruled out forcing councils to scrap fees.
The council said: “Households that already pay by direct debit for the fortnightly service should already have received details of the new subscription period. Their direct debit will be automatically renewed and payment taken on 1 May 2024 – unless they inform the council that they wish to cancel by 30 April 2024.
“Households that already subscribe to the service and usually pay by card will be receiving emails or letters from 23rd April inviting them to renew their subscriptions for another year.
“The new subscription period runs from 1st June 2024 to 31st May 2025, with a four-week period over the winter when no brown bin/garden waste collections will take place.
“If residents want to make changes to their subscription – adding another brown bin or reducing the number of bins they pay for – they can do so once the new subscription period opens.
“Anyone wanting to subscribe to the service for the first time can also apply from the 23rd April. If they want to pay by direct debit, they will need to set up their subscriptions by 6th May in order to have their application processed and their permit received in time for the start of the new subscription year.”
People wishing to pay by debit or credit card will need their payment to be processed before 20 May in order for them to receive their permit in time for their first collection of the new subscription year.
Subscribers to the 2024-25 collection service will be able to claim a free tea or coffee when buying a slice of cake in the Floral Pavilion café or the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum café, and a voucher will be included on the back of the new subscription permit letter, including the terms and conditions of the offer.
The council added: “Existing subscribers can make changes or cancel their service by visiting wirral.gov.uk/MyWirral and selecting ‘request a service – garden waste update’ or ‘cancel your Direct Debit arrangement’. Alternately, they can call 0151 606 2004 during regular office hours.”