Related Articles
A number of areas across the Liverpool City Region charge for the collection service
As more and more local authorities feel the pinch financially, some councils are turning to their fees and charges to plug cash gaps.
Among the options being considered by many is the adoption of a green waste collection charge. Calls for the so-called garden tax to be scrapped are growing across the North West as neighbouring areas look to save money where they can and continue to deliver services.
While councils in Greater Manchester begin to toy with introducing the charge, the levy has been a fixture for some time in the Liverpool City Region with just two of our areas not implementing the fees. We want to know if you pay for your garden waste to be collected and it is something you support?
READ MORE: She shouted racist abuse and attacked police but she won’t be going to jailREAD MORE: The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie confirms opening date
Adopting the scheme has not come without controversy. This was particularly evident when Liverpool Council chose to end its free collections for garden waste two years ago. Back in 2022, a fee was introduced by the city council in a bid to address some of its financial issues and raise more than £1m.
After causing a ruckus across all sides of the chamber, the policy was adopted and generated tens of thousands of sign ups. The impact of the programme was wide-reaching and even led to a split in the ruling Labour group at the Town Hall.
A new political grouping was born when former Labour members refused to vote for the council’s annual budget which included the surcharge. A petition was launched in opposition to the plans with thousands of residents making their feelings known online.
It also faced criticism during the roll out of the programme, when the local authority was made to provide an additional free week of collections after a mix-up on its website over the end of the previous scheme. Liverpool Council also sought answers from Royal Mail over stickers designating who had paid for the scheme to be placed on bins not being received on time.
Earlier this year, the £40 fee for a single bin was increased to £50 – a rise of 25%. Having two bins emptied now costs £93.75 – increased from £75 – while three bins amounts to £125.
Sefton and Knowsley Councils have confirmed to the LDRS there are no plans to introduce charges for the collection of green waste.
Wirral Council provides a garden waste collection service for domestic households. Garden waste from commercial premises is not collected as part of this service.
There is a charge for the garden waste collection service, £55 for the first bin and £31.50 for each additional bin. The charge was first adopted in June 2013 and began at £35 a year.
Subscriptions for the garden waste service in St Helens have risen year on year since 2017. The increase for 2024 – up to £42.50 – amounts to £2.50 extra and follows the trend of the price increasing annually.
In Halton, collection for each green waste bin per household stands at £43.
Source link
