NORTHWICH and Winsford residents will see their garden waste collection fee hiked to £50 this year.

The council says the increase in the charge for the service has been impacted by inflation.

Residents can subscribe to Cheshire West and Chester Council to have their garden waste collected in 2024 from Monday, January 8, with collections due to restart on the week of February 26.

The service operates on an opt-in basis and will cost £50 per bin per calendar year for 2024.

Residents can subscribe for as many bins as they need, but each will be subject to the £50 charge. Residents in receipt of full council tax reduction will be offered a reduction of £10 on the cost of one garden waste bin.

According to the council, the best time to sign up for the service is before the end of January to benefit from all 20 collections during the calendar year.

The service is offered fortnightly over 40 weeks of the year with a 12-week suspension outside of growing season over the winter months.

If residents produce garden waste during winter, they can dispose of it at their local household waste recycling centre for composting.

Alternatively, residents could pile it up in a sheltered place in their garden, and then place it into their garden waste bin once the 2024 service starts again.

Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet member for environment, transport and highways, said: “I’d like to thank residents for their support in recycling their garden waste using the collection service last year. People can subscribe for 2024 from Monday, January 8.

“Due to inflation and the increased cost of delivering the service since the charge was initially set two years ago, the cost of a subscription for 2024 has had to increase.

"The council faces significant financial pressures and we need to prioritise core council funding to protect essential frontline services."

She added: "The collection of garden waste is not a core service that councils are required to provide, and the Government has confirmed that local authorities are able to continue to make a charge for the collection of garden waste during their recent ‘Simpler Recycling’ announcements.

"This service operates on an opt-in basis so is only paid for by the people who wish to use it.”

Residents can subscribe for the 2024 service from Monday, January 8 via: