Trafford Council has confirmed the start date for a new annual charge for garden waste collections as it attempts to address a £25m budget gap in its 2025/26 finances.
From June 1st 2025, residents will be charged £50 per bin per year for the collection of garden waste, with a £5 discount available for those who subscribe online.
The decision follows a public consultation carried out between November and December 2024, with the results presented to the Council's Executive on March 3rd.
Council officials have pointed to a "range of factors" behind the financial challenges, including "falling revenue from central government and higher costs of delivering essential services."
How the new service will work
Under the new scheme, residents wishing to have their garden waste collected will need to subscribe to the service and display a permit sticker on their green bin. Only bins with valid permits will be emptied of garden waste.
The council has confirmed several key details about the new charging system:
- The annual garden waste service costs £50 per bin per year
- Online subscribers will receive a £5 discount per bin (making it £45)
- The full annual charge of £50 applies for phone subscriptions
- Each subscribed household will receive a permit sticker for their bin
- Collection days will remain unchanged
- The service must be paid for in full before use
- No direct debit payment options are available
The council emphasized that the charge works out at "as little as 90p per collection", suggesting they believe it provides "value for money for those who choose to subscribe".
Food waste not affected
Importantly for residents, the free weekly collection of food waste will continue unaffected. Households can still use their green bin or caddy for food waste regardless of whether they subscribe to the garden waste service.
However, the council has warned that green bins containing any garden waste will not be emptied if the household has not subscribed to the new service.
Alternative options
For residents who choose not to subscribe, the council has outlined several alternatives for disposing of garden waste:
- Composting at home
- Taking waste to recycling centres at Woodhouse Lane in Altrincham or Chester Road in Stretford
- Arranging a private collection service
Green bins will not be removed from properties, as they can still be used for food waste recycling and to allow for future subscription to the garden waste service.
Why is the charge being introduced?
According to the council, over 75% of councils across the country already charge for garden waste collection, with many having done so for years.
A council spokesperson said: "Although we have been able to provide the service without a subscription charge in the past, we are no longer able to do so. By law, we cannot introduce charges for any other of our bin collections."
The council has stated that they have "tried hard to keep the charge as low as possible" while ensuring the service covers its costs.
Those interested in subscribing to the garden waste collection service can do so through the Trafford Council website, where the £5 online discount will apply.
