Fly-tipping fears as Nottingham City Council to introduce garden waste collection charge

People have voiced fears over an increase in fly-tipping over the new £35 annual price tag for green bin collections. The proposal has prompted a mixed reaction with some left far from happy with the new charge - but others say that Nottingham has had it too good for too long.

Residents receiving the service from the city council will need to opt-in online and pay an annual fee of £35. There will be a discount for any additional garden bins at a property, and households receiving Council Tax benefit can get the service for £17.50.

Due to the upcoming bank holiday, garden waste collections will begin on Saturday, March 31, and they will be collected on the same day as recycling bins.

One reader, Viaveritas, pointed out that other councils elsewhere in England charge way more: "Try living in Leicestershire where Melton Borough Council have you paying £84.96 per annum for ONE green waste bin. There is no other option, and Biffa who has the contract and manages the scheme does not always collect! Count your lucky stars Nottingham City!"

While Trushy said: "Nottingham city council are nothing but rob dogs. Don't they think we pay enough in council tax? And to make matters worse they do nothing to earn any of it."

Stanley59 said: "Think most people will have expected this. They’re skint and need to look at maximising income. Their only real source of additional income is residents and visitors to the city. If it’s not already happened I’d expect more increases to WPL, public transport, parking charges, residential parking permits, along with anything else they can think of."

Brad J said: "They’re not allowed to realise, they are instructed by the government with no choice. Legal/statutory responsibility is just that. I just cannot understand why anyone would want to be a local councillor."

Sailboat mentioned: "Fly-tipping will just increase, it is already horrendous where I live and of course, the council clears it up and of course more just arrives to take its place. We have asked for signs to say it is against the law and we have asked for CCTV, the council have told us it costs too much."

ClareH says: "Even though this new charge merely puts us in line with neighbouring cities and counties, people in Nottingham will still (understandably) feel that something is being taken away from them. Do the council seriously expect most people, in the middle of a nationwide cost of living crisis, to fork out for another NCC expense on top of the maxed-out incoming Council Tax rise? So we can add fly-tipped binbags of garden waste to all the other rubbish on our streets I expect?"

Thevoter stated: "Bin collection is paid for by council tax. How long before they start having separate charges for your main bin, or other things that come under CC? If other people in other towns have allowed this to happen, that’s their fault. There needs to be protests."

Traveller92 said: "This shouldn't be a problem, City residents have been lucky to have free garden waste collection. I pay for mine and it is worth every penny to save the trek to the waste disposal site. I'm surprised that it wasn't introduced before in line with other authorities."

Wheeliesuk brought up the issue of other areas already paying for their green waste by saying: "Mansfield District Council residents have had to pay for their brown bins for years (£35) - those on council tax benefit have not had a discount (still don't to my knowledge). Why were they having to pay when others in the same county were not? If the same discount was set here, then I would've paid £17.50!!! The £35 is still too expensive for my budget."

Msl said: "This will no doubt provoke an avalanche of complaints but I live in Ashfield where we've paid for garden waste collection for years. I suspect most councils charge for this service. A large proportion of city council taxpayers will not be fortunate enough to have a garden. It seems most unfair that they should have to subsidise a service for those who do.

"People will have to get used to the fact that to deal with the financial catastrophe in Nottingham, many non-essential services will either be scrapped, or people will have to pay to use them. This is one of those services. This is prudent financial control, previously lacking."

VictorRoy joined in by saying: "We're subsidising the green bin regulars as we don't empty that as often as the garden one. Guess people will start putting garden waste in the green bins in future."

So what are your thoughts on the extra charge, let us know in the comments below or HERE.