Witney News - Chance to sign up for Garden Waste collections

Chance to sign up for Garden Waste collections

With spring in the air and people turning their minds to gardening, residents in West Oxfordshire are being encouraged not to miss out on having the chance to get their green waste collected.

The District Council is once again offering a garden waste collection service to give householders the opportunity to have green waste collected fortnightly from outside their homes.

The new scheme starts in May and there is still an opportunity to sign up. Previously it has been a 12-month service, but this year’s scheme will run for an extra five months until September 2010 when a new waste contract comes into force.

The cost for 17 months is £51, which equates to just £3 per month. As well as fortnightly collections, this fee includes provision of a wheeled bin.

All of the garden waste collected will be composted to reduce the pressure on landfill sites and help the environment. Green waste can be harmful if sent to landfill as it can break down to form leachate, a liquid that can pollute water and soil, and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Cllr David Harvey, West Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “
“As the scheme has proved so successful in the past, and has helped to divert thousands of tonnes of green waste from landfill, the Council has extended its capacity this year to cater for twice as many people. We are able to run the service for 8,000 households and we have already had thousands of people sign up. The scheme operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so I would encourage residents to contact the Council as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

Anyone wishing to join the scheme, or find out more information, can do so online at www.westoxon.gov.uk/garden, by calling 01993 861020 or emailing [email protected]

The Council will also be running a stall at the following locations to give people more information about the Garden Waste Scheme:

Chipping Norton Market: Wednesday, 15th April, 10am-4pm
Witney Market: Thursday, 16th April, 10am-4pm
Carterton Co-op: Friday, 17th April, 10am-4pm