Have you signed up for the West Lancashire Borough Council chargeable garden waste collection service?

Residents are reminded to sign up and pay before 15 May 2017 to ensure no interruption to their service, with collections continuing every two weeks.

Charges for the garden waste collection service apply from 5 June 2017 and residents can choose if they wish to use the service.

It will cost £30 per year for one green bin to be emptied. Householders can have additional green bins emptied at a cost of £25 per year for each additional bin. Residents can buy bins from the Council at a cost of £23 each.

Residents are urged to visit the Council website to sign up and pay, as this is the quickest and most convenient way: www.westlancs.gov.uk/gardenwaste.

Heidi McDougall, Director of Street Scene Services, said: “There has been a good response from households wanting to sign up for the chargeable service and most have chosen to use the website as this is the quickest way to subscribe. The website is available 24/7, and enables people to sign up and pay from the comfort of their home at a time that is convenient for them.”

Leaflets are being delivered to every household in the borough giving information about the changes. Information is also provided at www.westlancs.gov.uk/gardenwaste.

Residents who decide not to sign up and pay can dispose of garden waste at household waste recycling centres, or alternatively, compost it.

NO! I wouldnt pay on principle, this is just the thin edge of the wedge, what next...pay for removal of your grey bin household waste ???? I wouldnt be surprised if a charge for using the tip comes up next, mark my words.....

So the logic of this is that services, which were previously provided by council tax funding, are now becoming optional. So next year perhaps we can pay only for the services that we individually want or use?