MANSFIELD: Garden waste charge is set for increase

Council leaders are proposing an increase to Mansfield’s brown bin charge which will take effect from April of 2015.

The authority introduced a £25 yearly fee for garden waste collection in April 2012, angering some residents.

Now Coun Phillip Shields, the council’s portfolio holder for environment, has proposed that the service be increased by £1 a year until 2018.

Under the terms of the proposal, which was confirmed at a delegated decision meeting on Friday, 18th October, the charge will increase to £26 for the 2015/16 financial year - rising to £28 at the start of the 2017/18 financial year.

The decision is due to be debated at a meeting of full council on Tuesday (29th October).

The news follows the revelation that neighbouring Ashfield District Council plans to make the collection of garden waste more expensive for people who do not pay for the service by direct debit.

When the Chad first revealed the planned charge in 2012, we revealed that 6,000 homes in the district had signed up, while 2,250 had opted out. The authority later reported an increased uptake by residents.

Coun Shields said: The charge has remained £25 since the scheme was introduced. This small increase of just £1 a year will enable the council to maintain this discretionary service and ensure a high quality and sustainable environment by reducing the amount of waste going to landfill by 5,600 tonnes a year.”