Merton’s cabinet have agreed proposals to introduce a new garden waste collection service for residents.

The proposals agreed last Wednesday night (11 May) mean the council will be setting-up and implementing a scheduled garden waste collection service available for residents across the borough.

To be introduced as soon as possible this summer, the fortnightly service will be available for a subscription of £65 per annum or a reduced rate of £50 for pensioners and those in receipt of income or disability support. Responding to many comments made by residents, it is hoped having the option of this service will be helpful for those without transport or who may struggle to get their garden waste to the waste and recycling centre.

The scheduled kerbside garden waste service allows residents to have their garden waste automatically collected from their home and composted centrally without having to make contact with the council each time. For the duration of the subscription residents who sign up will be provided the option to have either a 240-litre wheeled bin or 25 paper sacks per year, each with a 75-litre capacity.

For those who do not wish to sign up for the service Merton is also trying to make it easier from residents to compost from home. The council is currently offering a reduced price on its home compost bins for only £5 plus a £5.49 delivery charge, and garden waste can still be taken down to the Garth Road waste and recycling site.

Councillor Andrew Judge, Merton Council cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration said:

‘ Ensuring residents have options on disposing their garden waste is crucial and introducing this service for a small fee allows Merton to do just this. We think this is a fair approach which we hope will be affordable.

‘Although the free service had to be stopped as part of the council’s overall savings for this year, we have listened to our residents and are happy to be able to bring them this new option. By charging residents the equivalent of just £2.71 per collection, the service is affordable but not a financial burden to the council.’

Find out more
http://www.merton.gov.uk/greenwaste

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Notes:

– Before this is implemented, the final decision is still subject to scrutiny call-in.
– For Merton, £65 per annum works out at £2.71 per collection for 24 collections. Collection will be fortnightly except for two collections over the Christmas/New Year period.
– Overall Merton disposed of over 4,100 tonnes of garden waste in 2010/11 via a central compost facility.