Households in Newark and Sherwood have been invited to become greener by joining or renewing their membership of the district’s garden recycling service.
By converting garden waste to compost that helps plants and vegetation grow and diverting it from landfill, fewer greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere.
This year, Newark and Sherwood District Council is reducing the annual cost for a bin from £35 to £30, for the 2021-2022 scheme.
Garden recycling tonnage has increased in recent years but Newark and Sherwood District Council is aiming to improve its collection rates as part of its commitment to improving the environment.
The council has pledged to become greener in all aspects of its operations and in 2019 declared a Climate Emergency and has since been investigating ways of reducing its carbon footprint.
Coun Roger Jackson, chairman of the Council’s Leisure and Environment Committee, said: “Our garden recycling service offers our residents exceptional value. It’s better for the environment than driving to the household waste centre and we can better meet our recycling ambitions, serve and meet the needs of our customers and help preserve the planet.
“I thank residents for their patience and the support they have shown to our waste crews throughout the pandemic and in particular during the first lockdown while they worked hard to prioritise household waste and recycling collections.
“We already have more than 14,500 people who use the service and since April last year, we have collected more than 4,000 tonnes of garden waste. With more people spending time at home and in their gardens – certainly during the summer months – I hope the fee reduction is another incentive to join the scheme and help us create a Greener District.”
Renewal letters to existing customers are being sent out, inviting residents to continue their participation in the scheme at the reduced fee of £30. Once customers have renewed, they will receive a letter with the new sticker. From April, bins without the new 2021 sticker will not be emptied.
There is no change to the type of green waste you can put in your brown bin:
·Grass cuttings
· Hedge trimmings
· Leaves
· Small branches and twigs (up to 10cm in diameter)
· Plants and weeds
· Cut flowers
For £30 for the year, customers will receive a brown bin and an all year-round collection service – every two weeks between March and November, and monthly from December to February. Additional bins are available at £30 each.
The service runs from April 1 until March 31. Upon receipt of payment customers will be given a sticker to place on their bin. Only bins with stickers on will be collected.
• For more information on the garden recycling collection service go to http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/gardenrecycling