Higher charge for early adopters of Erewash garden waste bin collections

The price for early adoption of garden waste bin collections in a part of Derbyshire is due to rise after “significantly higher” numbers of homeowners subscribed for the first year. Erewash Borough Council introduced a £37 annual garden waste collection charge from April this year, with an “early bird” offer of £20 for those subscribing before the end of March and a £32 charge those paying by direct debit or online.

The council is now looking to increase the early bird charge to £25 for those subscribing before March 2025, with the current £32 direct debit/online discount to be scrapped but the £37 (full price) to remain the same. It writes in a report to be discussed next week: “Following the successful introduction of garden waste collection subscriptions last year and the council’s continued projected deficit position over the medium term, this report sets out the proposed tariff model for 2025/26.

"This is intended to enable the service to continue whilst generating additional income to contribute to the council’s medium term budget gap. The first year of the garden waste subscription service proved to be a huge success with significantly higher numbers of households subscribing than anticipated within the budget and the incentivisation of automated online self-service transactions working extremely well.”

It details that 61 per cent of Erewash households subscribed to the service, bringing in £225,000 more than expected – totalling £690,000. The council, discussing the raised £25 early bird fee, says the average garden waste collection charges in nearby councils is £46 and nationally the figure is said to be £56 per year.

Derbyshire Dales District Council currently charges £56 a year for its garden waste pickups while Chesterfield Borough Council charges £40. Erewash officials write: “The proposed charges represent value for money and work out to be only 49p per week based on the early bird price.

“The charges are below the England average and the Derbyshire and immediate neighbouring authorities. In fact, the proposed charges would be the lowest of any of the Derbyshire or immediate neighbouring local councils which charge.

“Given the extremely successful results from the first year which did not include direct debits, it is proposed not to attempt to implement direct debits in 2025/26. If they are introduced in future years, there will be further technical work required (and possibly additional costs) to introduce new system infrastructure and to integrate various systems.

“Residents that choose not to participate in the garden waste subscription scheme will be able to take their garden waste to one of the Derbyshire County Council provided household waste recycling centres or to compost their garden waste at home. To support home composting, information is provided on the council website on how to home compost and to purchase a home compost bin.

"Last year the council subsidised composting bins and offered half price bins for up to 1,000 households via ‘Getcomposting’ (excluding delivery). The council will extend this offer into year two to continue to offer half price home composting bins.”

The council is covering £14.25 of the £35.49 cost (£28.50 + £6.99 delivery) for compost bins for up to 1,000 households. Last October it said it could make £875,000 in the first year of garden waste collections, if there is 80 per cent uptake, rising to £1.23 million in the second year of charges.

Opposition councillors had said in March that a flat discount for everyone should be encouraged, regardless of people’s ability to pay online or use direct debits. They also feared the charge would lead to an increase in fly-tipping.

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