Monmouthshire County Council has launched a consultation to hear views from residents on how garden waste should be collected going forward. It comes as the council looks to explore the best options for delivering the service for the council and residents.
Kerbside garden waste has been collected by the council for the past seven years, with the scheme being subsidised by the council in order to keep costs low for residents. This year the scheme has been subsidised by £330,000. This means that for every permit currently charged at £18 per year, it costs the council just over £36 to provide the service, leaving an £18 funding gap per permit.
In the current financial climate, it is becoming increasingly difficult to continue this level of subsidy. The council wants to continue providing the service as it recognises how valued it is by customers so a number of alternative options are now being explored and residents are being asked to share their views. People are being asked to fill in a brief survey looking at the options of potentially increased permit fees as well as the possibility of introducing larger green waste wheelie bins which would be collected on a fortnightly basis.
Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Neighbourhood Services, Councillor Jane Pratt said: “Our garden waste collection service is a valued service but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to continue subsidising it in the current climate. We are looking at different options on how to deliver this service to ensure we get the best sustainable options for the council and our residents. Please take the time to fill in our survey so your views can be heard.”
Anyone wishing to have their say can do so by filling in the survey found here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=eQBNLCzFs0uzytjq8ba31Qs94Av2gd5PpArae_B-yNNUOUtEUFo2SVRYTFZKNVc2NEVZVlJVM1VZUS4u
The consultation closes on the 25th of September 2020.