Householders wanting to have their garden waste bins emptied after 1 October [2024] can subscribe to Shropshire Council’s garden waste service from today (Tuesday 3 September).

A 12-month subscription costs £56 per bin and will cover the period 1 October to 30 September. Garden waste collections will stop from 1 October 2024 for anyone that hasn’t subscribed by this date.

A payment window will be open until 31 March 2025. To subscribe and for more information about the service people should visit the Shropshire Council website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/gardenwaste.

Anyone unable to subscribe and pay online can call 0345 520 7007.

We’d be grateful if you can help share this information with residents in your area. We’ve attached a copy of a leaflet that is being distributed to all households from this week, and some graphics that you can use on social media if you wish.

Those who subscribe to the service will be sent a special sticker to attach to their garden bin, to show collection crews which bins to empty.

From 1 October food waste collections will be suspended as councils cannot charge for this service. Subscribers to the garden waste service will no longer be able to put food waste in their garden bin.

However, all councils in England must introduce a weekly food waste collections to all properties from 2026 and Shropshire Council will introduce a new food waste collection service to all households from that date.

Those who don’t subscribe are also asked not to put garden waste in your general waste bin as this is taken to our energy recovery facility, which can't accept garden waste. General waste bins won't be emptied if they contain garden waste.

As we’ve said before, Shropshire Council is facing unprecedented financial pressure. We must make significant savings in 2024/25 to keep a balanced budget and our plans include difficult decisions. We must look at other ways of creating income so that we can protect essential frontline services for those residents most in need.

Though the collection of garden waste is not a service that the council must by law provide, it is one that we want to continue to provide. And as not all residents need or want the service we’ll now be providing this as an opt-in chargeable service to those who need or want it.

Some 80% of English councils already charge for garden waste collections, and many have been doing so for several years. An annual green waste subscription charge of £56 is in line with our neighbouring councils.

More information is available on the Shropshire Council website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/gardenwaste.