Residents encouraged to sign up to new garden waste collection service

The change to a fee-based service has been introduced as part of the council's continued efforts to future-proof services and reduce its running costs in the face of ongoing government funding shortfalls.   

The new service will ensure residents receive better value for money than neighbouring boroughs, with the continuation of weekly household collections in spring, summer and autumn (fortnightly in winter when collection volumes halve), with a greater capacity per collection of 270 litres (three 90-litre canvas bags) and a cheaper rate per collection (£70 annual fee). 

By subscribing to the new service, residents' garden waste clippings and trimmings will be collected from outside their homes to be processed into compost. 

Subscribers will receive three green tags to attach to the handles of their current canvas bags.  

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: "Delivering value for money for residents and sustainable services remains a key priority for the council despite the financial pressures caused by significant underfunding from the government. 

"While we strive to protect residents as much as possible from financial burdens, it has been necessary to reshape the service and introduce this scheme, which continues to put residents first by delivering greater value for money in comparison to our neighbouring boroughs and ensuring a more sustainable operating model for the future. 

"Once you sign up, we'll send you tags to attach to your three canvas bags and your collections will begin from July"   

The revised service was given the go-ahead by the council earlier this month, following a public consultation in March. 

To find out more and subscribe to the service, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/garden-waste.